2026-10-06 - City Council

00:00The city council is the sole legislative

00:03body of the city of Framingham and is

00:04therefore [music] responsible for

00:06passing city ordinances. The city

00:07council is made up of 11 members who

00:09[music] exercise the legislative powers

00:11of Framingham. Two of these members are

00:13known as counselors at large and nine

00:15members are known as district

00:16counselors. [music] The city council

00:17serves as a link between the citizens of

00:19Framingham and their municipal

00:20government. Counselors [music] help

00:22constituents by connecting them to

00:23resources, services, and city

00:25departments and also serve as advocates

00:27for all Framingham residents. The

00:29following city council coverage is

00:31brought to [music] you by the Government

00:32Channel, a service of the city of

00:34Framingham.

00:36[music]

00:44[music]

00:57Thanks. 2026.

00:59We are using version three of our agenda

01:01which is posted in the public meeting

01:03portal [music] and published to I

01:04legislate yesterday. Uh councilors long

01:08and Bryant will be remote. Council Malik

01:10will be a couple minutes late in person.

01:13Uh first we will have minutes of uh

01:159:1526.

01:17>> Motion

01:17>> second.

01:19>> Okay. So it's been moved and seconded.

01:22Take a roll call vote. So hold on.

01:26I get back to my council long.

01:34Council Long, are you with us?

01:36I know you are. Was I saw you? But okay.

01:39Council Ward,

01:40>> yes.

01:40>> Councel Feny,

01:41>> yes.

01:42>> Mr. Canon,

01:43>> yes.

01:43>> Alexander,

01:44>> yes.

01:45>> Yes.

01:46>> Miss Malik,

01:47>> I'm not here. Sorry. Mr. Stephani,

01:49>> yes.

01:49>> Miss Bryant, you here yet?

01:53>> Myself? Yes. Mr. Le Bruno?

01:54>> Yes.

01:55>> None in favor? zero opposed. Next, we

01:58have a proclamation brought forth by

01:59councily recognizing the 325th

02:02anniversary of the First Parish Church.

02:05>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, yes, this is

02:08recognizing the 325th anniversary.

02:10They're going to be celebrating this

02:11weekend this wonderful uh milestone.

02:15Whereas on October 8th, 1701,

02:1818 founding families alongside the

02:20Reverend John Swift gathered to

02:22establish the Church of Christ in

02:24Framingham, cementing the first

02:26organized house of worship in the newly

02:28incorporated town. And for more than

02:31three centuries, the story of the first

02:33parish has been linked with the history,

02:35civic foundation, and evolution of

02:37Firmingham, initially serving as the

02:39civic and spiritual center of town life

02:42and weathering periods of profound

02:44national and local change. And in 1826,

02:48First Parish established its governance

02:50independence of town administration and

02:52later in 1830 embraced the Unitarian

02:55Tradition champion theological freedom,

02:58conscious and reasoned faith. And

03:01whereas in 1960, the congregation joins

03:04hands with the Universalist Church of

03:06Framingham in an enduring union of

03:08shared purpose, universal love, and

03:10dedication dedicated community

03:12fellowship. And whereas anchored the

03:15historic Framingham Center Common from

03:17its sanctuary at 24 Vernon Street, First

03:20Parish's campus, which was rebuilt in

03:221926, has served as a beloved uh

03:25architectural landmark, community

03:27meeting ground, and sanctuary of peace

03:30and music for generations of residents.

03:32And whereas First Parish continues to

03:34lead by example as a recognized green

03:37sanctuary and welcoming congregation,

03:39demonstrating an unwavering commitment

03:41to social radical and I'm sorry, social

03:44racial environmental justice,

03:46compassionate service, and openhearted

03:48community stewardship. And whereas in

03:51the year 2026, First Parish in

03:54Firmingham celebrates its monumental 325

03:57anniversary representing three and a

03:59quarter century of spiritual guidance,

04:01fellowship, and civic engagement. And

04:03now for therefore the mayor and the

04:05council of Framingham hereby

04:07congratulate the first parish on this

04:08remarkable milestone of 325 years of

04:12faith, community and service and urge

04:14all residents to join in celebrating

04:16this historic institution and its

04:18enduring contribution to the life of our

04:20city.

04:22>> Thank you very much.

04:25Is there anyone here from the first

04:26parish?

04:27>> No.

04:27>> Okay. Very good. Uh [clears throat] next

04:30we'll have public participation. I I

04:32just want to clarify something that um

04:35public participation is something that's

04:36in our rules and is very um it's

04:39supposed to be very studiously followed

04:41because it has to do with preserving

04:44people's constitutional rights etc. So

04:45we need to act in the same way at all

04:48times. One of the things in our rules

04:49that I have been some somewhat um

04:51neglectful of is the fact that it does

04:54require anyone speaking whether on an

04:56agenda item or in public participation

04:58to give their name and address. So going

05:00forward, I'm going to ask everyone to

05:02give their name and their address uh as

05:04when they speak to the board because

05:06that follows our rules and it's only

05:07fair. Um if someone has a personal

05:10situation in which they are concerned

05:12about uh giving their address, they

05:14won't be able to speak on that

05:15particular evening, but if they contact

05:17our office ahead of time, uh we can

05:19speak to the police department, whoever

05:21to discuss the problem and figure out

05:23whether it's something we could wave.

05:24But as of now, just to be fair to

05:26everybody uh going forward, that's what

05:28we have to do. So publication tonight we

05:31have I think one

05:36and no one on Zoom. So we only have one

05:38person. Sarah Mun.

05:41[snorts]

05:43>> Hi. Uh Sarah Mcune. Uh well District 7

05:46resident and I wrote my address already.

05:48Um I'm here to express my concern um

05:50about how certain people have been

05:52allowed to take up space at the farmers

05:53market um and also Framingham Fest this

05:56weekend. um they've traumatized and

05:57frightened um children and families. I

06:00support free speech, no matter how ugly

06:02and vile it may be. But I question

06:04whether a line has been crossed when

06:05children and families are emotionally

06:07harmed. In recent weeks, anti-abortion

06:09protesters have taken up a position in

06:11the center of the common under the

06:12flagpole, holding really large signs

06:14with graphic images of fetuses and body

06:16parts with the words, "Abortion is

06:18murder." They have also at times

06:20accosted people who walked by and

06:22uttered any disagreement. Children,

06:24particularly young children, have been

06:25very confused and frightened by these

06:27images and the interactions, and they

06:29should not have to be subjected to it.

06:31They should not have to go home and have

06:32these [clears throat] difficult and

06:33unexpected conversations over dinner and

06:35then struggle with anxiety and falling

06:37asleep, as I heard happened in multiple

06:40households um after the market on

06:42Thursday. They should not be frightened

06:43to return to the market or to have to

06:45leave Framingham Fest early because they

06:47find out that these protesters have

06:49returned. Framingham families do not

06:51deserve that.

06:52These protesters have their First

06:54Amendment right to stand there with

06:55their signs. But the children and

06:57families in Framingham also have the

06:58right to feel safe at events that are

06:59marketed as familyfriendly. Why can't

07:02these people be moved to another

07:03location on the green rather than right

07:05smack in the middle where they cannot be

07:06avoided? Worse, people who actually

07:08tried to reason with them, myself

07:09included, got screamed at and called

07:11baby killers. I was told that I support

07:14murder and that I hate kids. And that's

07:17a little wrong kind of. Anyone who knows

07:18me knows better. And frankly, it's

07:20borderline harassment as far as I'm

07:21concerned. And I'm not the only

07:22[clears throat] one who was subjected to

07:24this treatment. It seems to me that

07:26there's a pattern of silence from some

07:28leaders in the city when it comes up to

07:30when it comes to standing up for

07:32marginalized people here in Framingham.

07:34These protesters are the ones, as far as

07:36I'm concerned, who do not care if they

07:38fail to see the harm that they are

07:40causing to the living children around

07:41them. And if their only reaction is to

07:43scream baby killer when it's pointed out

07:45to them, they or ICE or other bullies in

07:48our community, continue to be given

07:50space and a platform and seemingly more

07:52rights than the actual everyday people

07:53in this community than can we really

07:55call Framingham safe. I call upon

07:58Framingham leadership to not just

07:59practice disengagement and hope that the

08:01issues go away, but to directly

08:03challenge the people that are

08:04emotionally harming the citizens who are

08:06here, the folks who are here. Everyone

08:08has a right to their opinions. And yes,

08:10free speech is a real thing. And yes, I

08:11do support it. But let's consider the

08:13long-term effects. The hour that you

08:15stand there with your scary sign, the

08:17more that you're allowed to roam the

08:19streets unidentified and just grab

08:21people. These events have long lasting

08:23effects on the people that they are

08:24designed to scare. So why are we not

08:26supporting and hearing those people? Why

08:29has the silence gone on for so long when

08:31Framingham community members have

08:32expressed real concern and real fear? As

08:35far as I'm concerned, the silence equals

08:37complicity. Thank you.

08:39>> Thank you.

08:41Okay, next on the agenda are

08:42appointments. Um, items three through

08:45nine are appointments.

08:47Generally, we take them all together. We

08:50did ask the candidates who keep tech to

08:52come tonight. So, I would accept the

08:54appointment motion for the appointments

08:56with the exception of number six just to

08:59be fair to move.

09:00>> Second.

09:01>> Okay. Do you want to take number three

09:03separately, Mr. Chairman?

09:04>> It's up to the council.

09:06>> I only because the others I believe are

09:08volunteers. This is a division head,

09:10>> correct?

09:11>> And perhaps the candidate would want to

09:13speak or the mayor.

09:14>> That's fine. So, the [clears throat]

09:16motion would be for numbers four,

09:20five, seven, eight, and nine. It's all

09:23moved.

09:24>> Okay. Is this There was a second.

09:26>> Can I just make one?

09:27>> Yes.

09:27>> Um, we we did meet and they were all

09:30voted uh unanimous. I just want to make

09:32that for the record.

09:33>> Yes. Thank you. I'm sorry about that.

09:34>> No, no worry. We met on um October 1st.

09:37Just

09:37>> just a point of clarification, Mr.

09:39Chair. That was everybody, right? All

09:40the appointments.

09:40>> All the appointments.

09:42>> Thank you.

09:42>> Yes. Okay. So, all those in favor? Mr.

09:45Wood?

09:46>> There's no second to that motion.

09:47>> I believe second.

09:49>> Second.

09:49>> Second.

09:51>> Mr. Wood?

09:52>> Yes.

09:52>> Miss Feny?

09:53>> Yes.

09:54>> Mr. Canon?

09:55>> Yes.

09:55>> M. Mr. Alexander?

09:57>> Yes.

09:57>> Mr. Aani?

09:58>> Yes.

09:59>> Mr. Stephanie?

10:00>> Yes.

10:00>> Miss Bryant, you here yet?

10:03Myself? Yes. M. Leo?

10:05>> Yes.

10:07am long. [clears throat]

10:08>> Yes.

10:09>> Okay. So,

10:10>> thank you.

10:12>> Somebody else say something. You are.

10:13>> Yeah. What about me? You are.

10:14>> Oh, I didn't see you come in. I'm sorry.

10:16>> Sorry.

10:16>> For half hour.

10:17>> I just Well, I wasn't looking to my

10:19left, I guess. I apologize. It's uh it's

10:22a habit of

10:23>> I called your name last time when I said

10:25you were going to be late and I

10:27announced you be a few minutes late and

10:29I called the role and I called your name

10:31knowing I just said that you weren't

10:32here. No, you are here and I missed you.

10:34So sorry about that. Okay. So it's all

10:38those in favor 10 to zero. Okay. Next

10:40would be the appointment of the director

10:41of public works. Mr. Mayor.

10:46>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, as you

10:48know, I'm I have after interviewing a

10:52number of people and advertising for

10:54this job, I've decided to appoint Eric

10:56Johnson uh as permanent director of DPW.

11:00Eric's got over 20 years of experience

11:02with the city, including a number of

11:05years as our chief engineer. He's a

11:07professional engineer in Massachusetts,

11:10got a degree in civil engineering from

11:11Tus University. Um, he's very much

11:15involved in all the aspects of DPW and

11:19he's probably got more institutional

11:21knowledge about this city than anybody

11:24else and I consider that a very valuable

11:26asset. [clears throat] So, I am very

11:28pleased to um present Eric's uh Johnson

11:32as um the new DPW.

11:34>> Motion to approve.

11:35>> Second.

11:36>> Any further discussion?

11:39Seeing none, all those in favor?

11:40>> Mr. K.

11:41>> What's that?

11:42>> I was leaning forward.

11:43>> Hand up. I'm sorry.

11:44>> You didn't see him because I was leaning

11:45forward.

11:46>> Mr. K.

11:47>> Yes. Briefly. So, it came up at the last

11:48meeting and sometimes things get get

11:50interpreted in a way that is uh

11:53inaccurate. Sometimes when we appoint

11:56someone I support and I've made the

11:58motion for the the recommendation and

11:59welcome and congratulations. Um we there

12:03there's concern about limited

12:05documentation. I think someone was out

12:06and the resume didn't get to us.

12:08Sometimes at risk we have when we

12:11appoint someone who we've all worked

12:13with for such a long time who has the

12:14legacy that the mayor has talked about.

12:16we overshadow the opportunity for the

12:18candidate to talk about their

12:20qualifications or to dive deeply into

12:22the reasons that are obvious to us

12:23because we've worked with the candidate

12:25for such a long time of why that person

12:26is being appointed. So, um, I think it

12:29came across to colleagues of mine, uh,

12:31perhaps to me, and that's why I wanted

12:34to clarify that there was an objection

12:36to the candidacy, which there was not,

12:38but it's it's a disservice to the

12:40candidate if we treat someone who is an

12:43inside hire differently than we would as

12:46somebody else. So, that was the issue

12:48there. The documentation came through.

12:50I, like so many others, have worked with

12:52Mr. Johnson for years and years. Um, and

12:55it's great to see so many I see Peter

12:56Cers here. I see Mr. Lewis here. Um, we

13:00have a a proud tradition of uh public

13:02works in Framingham. It's one of the

13:03things we do uh the best uh I think and

13:06I'm looking forward to continuing that

13:08tradition and and asking tomorrow what

13:10should we do differently the following

13:12day than we have done in the past and

13:14always looking for ways to uh to do

13:16things differently and better than uh

13:17than else. So, thank you for the time,

13:19Mr. Chairman.

13:20>> Mr. Wood,

13:23>> uh thank you, Chair. Um, welcome and,

13:25uh, glad to see your name put forward.

13:27Um, hope you succeed greatly in the

13:30role. Um, I think I probably speak for

13:33everyone up here when I say that what we

13:35hear most about are DPW related issues.

13:37It's the most public facing department.

13:39Um, I in my opinion that the city has,

13:42it's also one of the largest. And so,

13:44um, I hope this is the beginning of

13:46productive relationship where you're not

13:48afraid to come to us um, for for

13:51anything. I think the community

13:52engagement aspect of this role is

13:55understated um and it's fast and uh yeah

13:59hope hope you're up to it and we will

14:00we'll support you in any way we can but

14:02I think that's um as you head into this

14:04role I would just really emphasize that

14:06port that portion of it

14:11>> um I just want to actually add on to

14:12that too um on to Mike's comments I

14:15think that you know the true testament

14:17of um someone you're going to put into a

14:19leadership position been um whether it's

14:21Eric or you know Peter Cers Bob Lewis

14:24going back um I think that it's a a good

14:27showing of folks that showed up tonight

14:29here for him cuz I know that there was a

14:31concern that maybe you know we would not

14:34vote him in which you know I mean I

14:36guess I could you know understand people

14:38you know not sure they'd have the votes

14:40but you know and you guys were like

14:43should we come and you to see you all

14:45show up I think is really a true

14:46testament to Eric and I think that it

14:49just shows knows that you guys are a

14:51good working team and I think that that

14:54DPW is one of the ones that's the

14:56biggest and we get the most not

14:58complaints. Um we will you see a lot go

15:02on because you guys take care of

15:03everything and it's probably the one

15:05that we get the most you know critics

15:07that complain about everything else.

15:09It's the one department that they tend

15:11to be not as critical. though for that.

15:13I think it's a testament to your hard

15:16work down there and I think that um I

15:18wish Eric luck um and I think he's going

15:20to do a good job and we'd like to

15:23continue to be partners with the DPW and

15:25the employees that you know I've we've

15:27all interacted with over the years. So

15:30here's to good things ahead. Thank you.

15:33>> Bryant, welcome.

15:35>> Thank you. But anyway, um I had to come

15:39>> turn your mic on.

15:41I thought I had it on. All right. I I

15:43would have done Zoom, but I just felt I

15:45had to come. Uh because just I'm not

15:48going to spend a lot of time because you

15:50know George hates that with me singing

15:52your praises.

15:53>> I think I think if we have you here in

15:56person, you have Mr. Johnson's presence.

15:57Maybe that's way you every week. That'll

16:00be fun if we just do these have to sit

16:02in the front row every week so we get

16:03Tracy here [laughter] and do uh hand

16:05votes. So

16:06>> maybe it would be worth it. But I just I

16:09think Janet um said said some of it and

16:12um uh the this department is um one of

16:17the biggest if not it's so busy um but

16:20the commitment is real and I think that

16:23um Eric is just a shining example of

16:25that um you know

16:28a millionfold the commitment is real the

16:31struggle is real but the commitment of

16:34DPW is real the way they work together

16:37um you know and just just for the city

16:41too as um Eric is always fond of saying

16:44when he's bought when someone is calling

16:47about an issue on his day off um he's

16:50like well I feel like I'm a public

16:52servant so I'm on all the time and

16:56that's the way the department operates

16:58too they operate well together they flow

17:01um it's about the work with them and

17:04they and they do it courteously too um

17:07all that uh they're happy to do their

17:10work and a lot of that, you know, just

17:12starts from the top even when they're

17:15short of people. The commitment is real

17:17and the excellence is real. And I think

17:20everyone in that department as well as

17:22on the council knows that if I thought

17:25that there if I really if I felt

17:27otherwise, I would definitely say it.

17:30But but I do 100% um support this this

17:35nomination. I think it is the most

17:37obvious and well done of the mayor. I

17:41think his background also speaks well of

17:44the um of this and it just keeps framing

17:47him flowing so well and I thank you all

17:49for showing up again. It shows the unity

17:51and the work uh the co the cohesion of

17:54the work and so we thank you because you

17:57give Framingham a good name.

18:00>> Thank you Miss Long.

18:02>> Uh thank you Mr. Chairman. So um not to

18:05reiterate all the comments that were

18:06made but uh as the former uh chair on

18:10standing committee of public works for

18:1111 years and working intimately closely

18:14with Mr. sellers when he first came in

18:17and with uh Eric over the years uh I

18:20couldn't find a better candidate that

18:22would represent Framingham in the best

18:25way possible and to take responsibility

18:28for everything that he does in the

18:31department and as well as working well

18:33with others all the way around. So I've

18:36known him for years. Uh I think you were

18:38the town manager at the time and uh our

18:41mayor was on the board of selectman at

18:43that point. So, at any rate, I think

18:45he's a great pick and thank you to the

18:47mayor for putting him up as a as the uh

18:51Department of Public Works head, which

18:54pretty much he's been in that position

18:55for a while. So, to fill in the gaps, so

18:59we've already made motions or I'll make

19:01a motion again to approve his

19:03>> Well, we don't need appointment, but I

19:05don't think you need it.

19:06>> Mr. Briefly, um Mr. Johnson's uniquely

19:10qualified. He was elected servant, a

19:11public servant in the town of Sherban.

19:13So, he gets it. It's public service,

19:14okay? He's facing the public. Today, I

19:16had a woman come to my house with a

19:17petition for Badger Road. I didn't want

19:19to ruin his day because I knew he had

19:20enough on his plate today, so I didn't

19:21make any phone calls. [laughter]

19:23Came from Badger Road. She spent an hour

19:25on Salem Road with me and my wife. Um,

19:27but he's uniquely qualified. And, you

19:29know, before he got out the door, you

19:31know, there was this it's not an easy

19:33place to work. Let's call it what it is

19:34at the DPW. All right. It's a great team

19:36and they work well together, but a lot

19:38of stress, a lot of demands. People call

19:40them when they have problems. They don't

19:41call them when everything's good. It's

19:42when there's a problem. And I'm happy we

19:44didn't lose Eric to another community.

19:46I'm happy the mayor got him before.

19:47>> Well said. Well said.

19:48>> Got up before he left. And I'm happy

19:50he's still part of the team and that

19:51he's going to leave the organization.

19:52So, well done, Mr. Man.

19:54>> Okay, with that, I will try again. Miss

19:56Feny.

19:57>> Absolutely. Yes,

19:58>> Mr. Canon.

19:59>> Yes.

20:00>> Mr. Alexander.

20:01>> Yes.

20:02>> Yeah.

20:02>> M. Malik.

20:03>> Yes.

20:04>> Mr. Stephanie.

20:04>> Yes. M.

20:06>> Yes. Resoundingly self. Yes. Miss Lerno,

20:09>> yes.

20:10>> M Long,

20:11>> yes.

20:12>> Mr. Ward,

20:13>> yes.

20:13>> Congratulations, Mr. Johnson. [applause]

20:20[applause]

20:25>> Either place that you're comfortable

20:26with.

20:27>> I really came here expecting to say

20:29more, but just

20:32[laughter]

20:33>> just thank you very much. I don't want

20:34to take too much time and I I I you

20:36can't tell me how much I appreciate your

20:38respect. I think you know this um the

20:41mayor putting me forward is a reflection

20:43not just from my resume, my work, my

20:45education, but the respect of the

20:47colleagues that I've owned earned over

20:48the years and um respect from the

20:52multiple positions each of which been a

20:53promotion within public works. And this

20:55is essentially the capstone of my career

20:57and I and I truly believe I can help

20:59this community and help this department

21:01and bring good service to these

21:02residents and just thank you again.

21:04Thank you.

21:05>> Thank you. [applause]

21:12>> Okay, next would be the ke candidates.

21:15So, um, just Keith Tech candidates want

21:18to just, um, briefly introduce yourself

21:20at the, uh, microphone just so we know

21:22who you are and then we can, uh, I know

21:25I have something to say. And anybody

21:27else has something to say?

21:28>> Should should they sit at the desk? Go

21:30to the

21:31>> I don't know. It might be easier just to

21:33uh,

21:35we only have three chairs. That's the

21:37problem.

21:37>> Well, it's just Maria, Mimmude, and

21:39Billy. There's only three here.

21:41>> Oh, who's not here? Sorry.

21:43>> Linda's not here. She's on a plane.

21:45>> Oh, okay. Well, you you people can sit

21:47because we have three chairs. So, I

21:49thought we had four people here. So,

21:50since we have three chairs, we're all

21:52set.

21:54>> Go ahead.

22:00>> What's this?

22:01>> She dialed in online.

22:02>> Oh,

22:04>> she's on a plane. Last I know.

22:07>> Don't see Don't see any indication of

22:08that.

22:09>> Okay. Yeah, she was she would be here,

22:10but Linda was on traveling back home.

22:15>> I mean, she's there. She should put her

22:16hand up, but I don't see anything. I

22:19don't see anything indicate she's there.

22:23>> Okay. So, um first of all, I'll take a

22:25motion, Miss L.

22:26>> So moved.

22:28>> Second.

22:30>> So, I know Mr. K, do you want to I know

22:32you asked for this, but I can.

22:35So, I've had the opportunity to meet

22:36with two of the three of you anyways.

22:38But I think that the reason we asked you

22:40to each come in as you're being

22:41reappointed or appointed to the KEFE

22:43tech board is at least from speaking for

22:46myself and more broadly a discussion

22:48we've had here at the city council over

22:51the last year or two is the uh proposed

22:54uh renovation and rebuilding whatever it

22:56ends up being of the school. And I don't

22:59think the issue at all is how much

23:03that is necessary because I don't think

23:04any of us here are in a position to know

23:07how much that is necessary. Um but

23:11certainly it doesn't seem out of the

23:12ordinary. If you look at other

23:14vocational schools and high schools

23:16throughout the Commonwealth, they're

23:17being built at similar ages. So I would

23:21assume that it's it's you know it's well

23:22within the um way it's done in the

23:25school building authority. My concern is

23:27frankly financial and not even the cost

23:29of the school. The cost of the school is

23:30what it is. Schools cost a lot of money

23:32right now and probably more more in the

23:35future. So there's not much we can do to

23:38control the cost of the of the school um

23:41within reason. But the concern I have is

23:43the impact on Framingham's future. This

23:45is probably the most significant

23:47financial uh threat to Framingham if not

23:51managed well. And the reason I say that

23:53is because there are ways right now in

23:56the state law that could saddle

23:58Framingham with 75% of the bill to build

24:02that school and no say at all as to

24:04whether it gets approved. And that's the

24:07concern that I have and that's something

24:09I would ask anybody that we appointed I

24:12vote to appoint in the mayor's uh

24:14nominations for the Keith Tech school

24:16committee over the next couple of years.

24:18I think the committee frankly has been a

24:20little deficient to date in in really

24:23following the money when it comes to the

24:25building of the new school. I think one

24:27thing that happened a couple years ago

24:30is when you did not this last budget but

24:32the budget before

24:34we asked that the feasibility study

24:36bonded and wasn't even really discussed

24:39in any way. It was kind of

24:42taken away and no, we're not going to do

24:44that. We want to do it this way. And my

24:47concern is is they if you continue to do

24:49it your way the whole way, not my

24:52concern is not what you're getting out

24:54of it. My concern is the potential

24:55impact to Framingham. So, I know as one

24:58person involved, I just ask that you try

25:00to remember, as much as I know you're

25:02all probably dedicated to rebuilding the

25:04building, which very well may be

25:06necessary, just remember how are we

25:09going to get there and how are we going

25:10to ensure that Framingham, who pays 75%

25:13of the bills, is able to deal with it in

25:15a way that is not a problem for the

25:17city. And that's really the only the

25:19only feelings I have about it. I don't

25:20know if anybody else would like to

25:21speak,

25:25Miss Bryant.

25:28I just wanted to say that um um I

25:31recognize as many people mo a lot of

25:34people in the community recognize how

25:36valuable Keith Tech is and um if it's

25:39necessary to rebuild it's necessary to

25:41rebuild. I don't that doesn't take away

25:43from my guests what George said but I

25:45did I did not through the process um

25:48feel strongly that way. I understand the

25:5175% but that really is not the fault or

25:55you know of Keith Tech the the

25:57leadership of Kee Tech and it's it's

26:00really a lynch pin in terms of drawing

26:03people to Framingham. They you know the

26:06list is long of people that want to go

26:08to Ke Tech and we're in that cycle um

26:11now. Uh so it is very valuable in terms

26:14of you know uh Framingham. So, I'm I

26:18support the work um the rebuilding and

26:22actually when I read the materials and

26:24stuff, I'm not as uh you know I I I

26:27don't I didn't even feel it was

26:29necessary for you guys come in and

26:31because most people want to make sure

26:33that keep tech continues to provide the

26:36um the opportunities and services that

26:39they do. I remember a student's mother,

26:42she was like bereff because she felt in

26:45her bra [clears throat] did that the

26:47opportunity

26:49um for for her future the program she

26:51wanted to go into she needed to go to

26:53Keith Tech um to get the best from that

26:56and that would that would change her

26:58future and they were first generation

27:02and whatnot and so um they were very

27:04very concerned but it worked out there

27:06and we were able to work it out to

27:07ensure um and that that really quelled

27:10the mother's fear because the future of

27:13your children is really what you work

27:15for what 20 years. So um and I hear that

27:18a lot. Keep tech if it's a vi it's a

27:21great opportunity for their kids and so

27:22a lot of parents whatever is necessary

27:25to do to keep K keep tech um uh going

27:29and pro you know [clears throat] so

27:31vibrant for their children's education

27:34and uh future careers they support it. I

27:38want to say

27:40Mr. Aani Mr. W.

27:41>> Yeah I'll be brief. Um I want to thank

27:44you for what you do at Keith Tech. Um it

27:46it's amazing. There's a 300 person

27:48waiting list for kids, our kids in the

27:50Framingham um community

27:52>> and I'll give you a cliffnotee version.

27:54The Framingham Rotary. I'm a member of

27:55the Rotary. We give about 10 or 11

27:57scholarships. It's Framingham, Ashland,

28:00Hollist, Hopkin. Out of the 11 or so

28:03kids that were we get five or six

28:04thousand. They're good size

28:05scholarships. They're not, you know, a

28:06lot of kids competing for them. Out of

28:08them, I think last year Keith Texon got

28:10either seven or eight of those

28:11scholarships. Okay. against Hopington,

28:13Framingham High, Ashland High. It's it's

28:16a true testament to what you folks do

28:17over there because that says it all. So,

28:19I go to those ceremonies and I the mayor

28:21actually comes also with me when we

28:22present them and it's um it's a real

28:24testament what you people are doing over

28:25at Keith Tech and that's why you got a

28:26300 person waiting list and why Mr.

28:28King's concerned and I'm concerned. So

28:30hopefully we can, you know, figure this

28:32all out one way or another. Thank you,

28:34>> Mr. Ward.

28:36>> Uh thank you, Chair. Um, since we had

28:38people come in, I would love to, um, ask

28:40everyone to introduce themselves. I I do

28:42know Maria and Bill from from my time on

28:44the on the KEK school committee. I

28:46haven't had a chance to meet Mmud yet,

28:48but yeah, if I could ask each of you

28:50just introduce yourselves and, you know,

28:52why you're seeking either reappointment

28:53or appointment to the committee and if

28:55you have reflections on the school

28:56project, um, I think they'd be welcomed.

29:00School building project that is.

29:06Ladies first.

29:09>> Now you push the button. It'll be green.

29:11There you go. You don't have to hold it.

29:13>> No. All good.

29:15>> My name is Maria Martinez. I am a um

29:18parent of three graduates from Keith

29:21Tech. I've been serving on the board

29:22since they were still in high school.

29:24Now they're professionals, all graduated

29:26from college. And Keith Tech really gave

29:29them that leg to know which career path

29:31they wanted to take. I continue to serve

29:34on the board because I believe in Keith

29:37Tech. Um, a lot of the students are from

29:41my district.

29:43So, I understand um how Keith Tech can

29:47help them move on and I will continue to

29:50serve on the committee with integrity

29:52and looking out for the best for the

29:54community that I serve.

30:00It was

30:06>> good evening. So it's great. You said it

30:08one more time.

30:10>> Good evening.

30:13Uh my name is Mammu Actar and uh I'm a

30:17long-term resident of the city

30:21and uh I'm an engineer by education and

30:25I have served in the electric power

30:27industry for 40 years in senior

30:30management positions.

30:32I've also served in uh uh in the human

30:36relations commission here for the town

30:38of Frammingham and then I was a chair of

30:41the finance committee also during during

30:45when it was the during the 1966 19

30:50not 19 201617

30:54time period.

30:56Okay. Um the reason I I technical

31:01education and training has always been a

31:04passion of mine throughout my career and

31:08I have over the years set up several uh

31:12engineering programs and technical

31:15training programs working with

31:18universities and technical consultants.

31:22It is my hope that uh

31:26that uh I can bring my experience to

31:30Keith Tech.

31:32uh and working with the other members

31:35and the school superintendent set up the

31:38institution

31:40uh basically to deal with the issues of

31:45tomorrow

31:46because there are lot of challenges in

31:51this in this area

31:53and not enough capacity

31:57to deal with all the uh demands that are

32:01being placed on this uh educational

32:05system whether it's nationally or here

32:08in the state of Massachusetts.

32:11So again as I said it is my hope that uh

32:13I can bring my uh experience u to this

32:18institution

32:19in hopefully uh making some

32:22contributions to set it up for the

32:24future. Thank you.

32:29My name is Bill Phillips and uh

32:33I knew this was going to come up in the

32:35conversation, but uh

32:40how do I say this, George? I've known

32:42you for a long time and I think your

32:44feathers have blushed. You're afraid

32:47it's you're going to get knocked out or

32:49something. Keith Tech has been around

32:52for so long and so many kids have

32:54graduated. I got three kids myself and

32:56they all got their own businesses and

32:58they're not getting in the way of

33:00anything. That was the reputation they

33:02had. The reputation they have right now

33:04is a good school. They're not trying to

33:06step on anybody else's school and

33:08they're not trying to step on you. And

33:10you could sit up there and smirk and

33:11smile. But the thing is, you're you're

33:14afraid that something's going to happen.

33:16They're not going to happen. They're

33:18taking care of their school. They're

33:20taking care of their kids. and and

33:22you're trying to sway people to let's do

33:25something about this. It's your entitled

33:27to do that. Wish you luck.

33:31>> Well, thank you very much, Bill. I

33:33appreciate that. I don't think

33:34>> I appreciate that.

33:36>> I I think it's an irresponsible

33:38statement to be honest with you because

33:39I did speak to you about this before and

33:42I have not criticized Keith Tech, their

33:44program or anything once. You can roll

33:46your eyes, Bill, but that's the truth.

33:48>> It's following you. If you can do it, I

33:49can do But my my wife I maybe my eyes

33:53naturally roll and I don't know it

33:55because I have not reacted to anything

33:57like that tonight. My wife is a graduate

33:59of Keith Tech. My mother was a graduate

34:02of Keith Tech. My mother was a licensed

34:04practical nurse and back in the 70s they

34:06had a program there for that. She went

34:08back to school in her 40s. So I have a

34:10strong connection to Keith Tech in that

34:12regard and I appreciate what they do and

34:14to suggest otherwise is not fair. It's

34:17simply the finance of it, Bill. And you

34:19can change that if you want to, but you

34:21choose not to. I mean, you worked there

34:23for a long time. I think you still work

34:25there, right? Is that what you told us?

34:27>> Is that correct?

34:28>> What am I going to change?

34:29>> No, but do you still work there, Bill?

34:30>> Do I still work there? Yes. Why would I

34:32be here?

34:33>> I don't know. But I thought that's what

34:34you said.

34:35>> Yeah. I I've been there 20 years.

34:37>> Right. That's what I thought. So, I

34:39appreciate that loyalty to to the

34:41school. Okay. But it's the financing of

34:44the huge $500 million project that we as

34:4775% owners in my opinion need to have

34:50more of a role on. That's all. And if

34:52you find that critical of Keefe tech or

34:54critical the way things get done and you

34:55think my feathers are ruffled or

34:57whatever you said or you think I'm

34:58trying to stop something or

35:01get knocked out of something. I don't

35:03really know what you're talking about.

35:04I'm trying to bring the same level of

35:05scrutiny in a respectful, polite manner

35:08to Keith Tech that everyone else gets.

35:11You know, I had the opportunity for

35:14better or worse for 10 years to work in

35:16a regional school district. I know how

35:18regional school districts work. Regional

35:20school districts for the most part don't

35:22get the same amount of attention from

35:24the towns that they're members of them.

35:26It just doesn't. I found that

35:28advantageous for 10 or so years of my

35:30career. I will admit that. Okay. It was

35:33easier than uh working for the school

35:35directly in the city or the town. But

35:39there are powers of school committees

35:41that cannot be ignored. If you guys

35:44decide to put [snorts] on a ballot

35:46question, you could spend $300 million

35:48of Framingham's money with a majority

35:50vote of citizens from Hopington, NICK,

35:53Ashland, and Hollist and nobody from

35:55Framingham and spend our money because

35:58we own 75% and we only have 50% or less

36:02control. That's my concern. If you think

36:04that's over or you think that

36:06disrespects the education or you think

36:08that's overboard, then that's your

36:09opinion, too. I agree. But I'm simply

36:12trying to have a consistent view and

36:14have you cooperate, not you personally,

36:16you the Keith Tech school committee to

36:17protect Framingham's finances. That's

36:20all. It's not and it's never has been

36:22and it won't be a criticism of Keith

36:24Tech. I very much appreciate what's done

36:26there and how it's done. So I'm sorry if

36:29you find it my interest to be unwanted

36:32or unwarranted, but it's not going to go

36:35away.

36:37>> Miss Labro.

36:39So, I was going to also say that I think

36:42that being the chair of the appointments

36:44committee and having you all on um at

36:47the meeting the other day um and then

36:49when I had mentioned to you, I had

36:50called all of you before to let you know

36:52that the council had asked for you guys

36:54to come in just so we can have a

36:55conversation. And you know, I know some

36:57people are concerned and I understand,

36:59you know, because it it by the way that

37:03it's done is we vote to have folks come

37:06through to the appointments committee

37:07and then they don't have to come to the

37:09city council meeting. Uh exceptions are

37:11usually with the DPW with with a you

37:13know division head as we saw tonight

37:15with the DPW. But I do think there are

37:17concerns and again it's not jobreated um

37:21or performance related. it's more of

37:24what's coming down or what we're

37:26starting here with this school. And so

37:29some of the comments had been, you know,

37:31just making sure that everybody just

37:34understands has the understanding that,

37:36you know, when it comes, you know, we're

37:38doing a lot of big ticket things here

37:40where, you know, putting the community

37:42center on hold. We have um Bethany

37:44school in the works. Um Heinway School

37:48now, we don't know what's going to go on

37:49with that. Um and you know keep tech

37:53school um you know the the the

37:55[clears throat] issue is is that we're

37:56the ones that are are in charge of the

37:58funding um or you making sure that you

38:01know that it gets paid for and so I

38:04think that was what I wanted to convey

38:07where you know and I can understand you

38:09folks taking it maybe personal that it

38:12was job related or persona or um

38:16performance related and um I totally

38:20understand that. That's why I was a

38:21little bit apprehensive um coming

38:23forward this you know having you guys

38:25come in. But I also think that given our

38:29finances and understanding what we have

38:31coming at us, um, you know, with big

38:34ticket items and especially a school of

38:37this size being a a vocational school

38:40and hearing about the costs and having

38:42this, you know, the bulk of the burden

38:45on Framingham,

38:47um, is where I believe that, you know,

38:52this came from. So that was my point

38:54that I just wanted to make um is as for

38:58having you folks come in um and I didn't

39:00want in any way to you for you to take

39:02it that you were being criticized. So

39:06>> Mr. Alexander and Mr.

39:07>> Can I just add one thing quickly too? I

39:09think that I was um I think Linda might

39:12be her my hand might be raised. I know

39:14that she had come back today and I

39:16didn't think that she was going to be

39:17here but I do think that she is on Zoom.

39:20So, I just wanted to

39:22>> unidentified iPhone on Zoom. So,

39:24>> do we know Eddie? Does that her

39:27>> I don't want Let's just We're not just

39:28>> Okay. Well, all right. Just I just

39:30didn't want to speak.

39:31>> She's not calling in.

39:32>> That's fine. I just didn't want to speak

39:33for her that if she was here.

39:38>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I'll be as

39:39brief as I possibly can. Um, and I uh I

39:42I want to personally thank you guys all

39:45you the candidates um for your service

39:48and that you and you want to step up and

39:51>> [snorts]

39:51>> um represent this community and

39:54representing it on the um Keith Tech

39:56board. Um I I I want to express some of

40:01my sentiments about um as the chair said

40:04and vice chair said that uh um we just

40:08wanted you to be like cognizant of all

40:10the other um um irons in the fire so to

40:15speak. Um that's in in in terms of u big

40:18ticket items in schools and that kind of

40:21thing. And um and I just want to say as

40:24an education advocate myself, I um I I

40:27just hope that as you guys go forward in

40:30that process that you'd start to develop

40:33like a closer tie and relationship and

40:37and letting everybody know in the

40:39community, us know that um you know

40:42what's going on with that project and as

40:44it's you know progressing if it gets to

40:46that point. Um because it [snorts]

40:49I I work in Belmont and uh we just built

40:52a high school and middle school and that

40:54was I believe upwards about 350 million

40:58for that community and Belmont is much

41:00smaller than here. So uh and when people

41:03start, you know, you start talking about

41:04that type of um uh investment, it it's

41:08scary. Those numbers are scary for a lot

41:10of people. So, um, and I just also

41:13wanted you to know that, you know, I

41:15consider Keef as well as, you know,

41:18Framingham public schools and Mass Bay

41:21and Framingham State and McCulla, you

41:24guys are the pillars of our educational

41:27package. You know, I always say that um

41:31you know that this is our future and

41:36that's your future, you know,

41:38businesses, your future um innovators,

41:42um plumbers, electricians,

41:45um and and and that's potential, you

41:48know, revenue that and and um assets

41:51that comes back to us eventually

41:53hopefully. That's when you invest in

41:55education. Um, I I wholeheartedly

41:59believe in that. Um, and I believe that

42:01you guys are the um the pillars of that

42:05that um education foundation that we

42:07have. And and quite frankly, I don't

42:10know any other community in this

42:12Commonwealth that has that full

42:13complement, that full package of having

42:17higher education

42:19um you know, two institutions and um

42:22Keith Tech and um you know in the

42:26Framingham public schools all in one

42:28location. So, um you guys should be uh

42:32commended and um I hope that um you know

42:36everything goes well for you guys and um

42:38and keep us in touch, you know, and and

42:41informed and I forgot St. Bridges as

42:44well.

42:44>> Thank you, Councelor Alexander.

42:46>> I slipped the note in. [laughter]

42:48>> Mr. Can Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

42:51>> Thank you.

42:52>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um and thank

42:53you all for your continued service to

42:55our community and to the people of Ke

42:56Tech. think we could go around the

42:57entirety of the room and and find the

42:59success stories that make KEF Tech such

43:01an important part of our community and

43:03and all the the lives that have been

43:04transformed. I don't think anybody has

43:07concern there. Where I am deeply

43:09concerned, Mr. Phillips in particular,

43:12>> I need all of you.

43:17I need all of you to go into this new

43:20appointment or this reappoint with the

43:22perspective of protecting Keith Tech as

43:26that community asset. I've worked with

43:28councelor King for a long time. I don't

43:30remember him using language like this is

43:32the largest

43:34that this is the largest could be the

43:36largest financial threat to our

43:37community. That kind of language comes

43:39easily from me, but it doesn't typically

43:41come easy from um the chair and because

43:44of his experience in a regional school

43:46district and and running the town. I I

43:48really worry about that and I also see

43:50it there's no way uh Whittier was voted

43:54down by their community and that was a

43:56$400 million price tag. There is no way

43:59KEF Tech, the new Keefe Tech is going to

44:01be less than $400 million.

44:04And I need the administration at Keith

44:07Tech to believe that you're looking out

44:10for Framingham financially.

44:13Not because you're trying to, you know,

44:15not because it's a it's a it's a

44:16money-saving thing where we're clipping

44:18coupons, but it's to protect the

44:20investment that we're making because I

44:22don't think it passes. If Framingham has

44:25the opportunity to vote considering

44:27Bethany, it's more expensive to live or

44:30run a business in Framingham now than

44:31it's ever been. I don't see that

44:32changing anytime soon. and then we're

44:34going to ask them to go to the polls and

44:36dig deeper. Now, they could still say

44:38no. The other communities say yes and

44:39we're still on the hook. If you haven't

44:41undertaken a process as members of the

44:43school committee representing Framingham

44:44to make sure that when we can squeeze

44:46every dollar, when we can stretch a dime

44:49into a dollar,

44:51at every opportunity, we put that that

44:55uh community asset in danger. And if we

44:58start to feel, if the community starts

45:00to feel, the council starts to feel that

45:02the kee future is questionable, well

45:05then we have to start undertaking all

45:07kinds of other things as contingency

45:09plans. What What do we explore what it

45:12would cost to have our own Framingham

45:14public schools uh anchored career tech

45:17[music] program? What would that co

45:19because you have to it's it's not f it's

45:21not that we want to. It's not that we're

45:22not big advocates of Keefe Tech, but

45:24we're all elected to these roles to make

45:26sure that there is a plan and a backup

45:27plan and that we're prepared for it. So,

45:29when there are easy opportunities, the

45:31lowhanging fruit to bond the studies and

45:34do things like that that have no impact

45:36on the the the process, the project,

45:40please be open-minded to that and see

45:43the bigger picture there. I was really

45:45troubled when there was resistance to

45:47that because it made it more affordable

45:49for us and it gives good faith

45:51indications that the school committee

45:52and the administration at Keefe Tech are

45:54not just looking to get something done

45:55at any cost but are looking to do so

45:57responsibly and thoughtfully. I don't

45:59doubt any of your commitment to

46:00Framingham, to Keith Tech, to the

46:03students, to the people on the lottery

46:05that that want to go to Ke Tech. And I

46:06frankly think I'm on board. I think

46:08there's a a a really strong consensus

46:11within the entire room here. That

46:12doesn't happen on a lot of issues, but I

46:15need the community who will eventually

46:17be asked to dig deeper needs to be

46:21convinced and have the confidence that

46:23their tax dollars at every opportunity,

46:25even for the most important things like

46:26what happens within the walls of the

46:28existing and the new Keefe tech are done

46:30so with great care and stewardship. So,

46:33if there's objection to something, if

46:34there's a process question, let's talk

46:36about it. Let's not get upset about it.

46:38We'll put all of that behind us. But

46:40please, the things that I worry about

46:42financially, I think that's a good

46:44thing. We're not you're not hearing

46:45concerns about the outcomes, the

46:47graduation rate, the the big things that

46:50really can derail a school system.

46:52That's a credit to the people in that

46:54building and to the work that you do and

46:55the stewardship that you have over at Ke

46:56Tech. When the issues are financial,

46:59we're in a good position, but that could

47:01derail us tremendously. So, I hope I

47:04hope my concerns are clear in the the

47:06concerns of of the uh of other members

47:08of the council and I I'll move that we

47:10um

47:12the nominations, Mr. Chairman.

47:14>> Okay. I think it was

47:15>> it's already been moved.

47:16>> Yeah, it was moved by Miss Lebron

47:18earlier.

47:19>> Mr. Stephanie,

47:21>> thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um first, thank

47:24you. Thank you for your willingness to

47:25serve and for the things you do for the

47:28students and the people in our

47:30community. Um, I want to offer a

47:32slightly different perspective. Uh, I

47:35hope you focus on how to provide the

47:37best education to our kids and how we

47:39provide that and continue to provide

47:41that. The weight list at the school that

47:42Mr. Ariani talked about is a testament

47:45to the popularity of the school. to

47:47speak to neighbors and people in the

47:49community that seek out and I have at

47:53least several members of my family in

47:56and previously in the in the program and

47:58what goes on in the school. I think we

48:01need to focus on that. Yes, the process

48:03is different and I know that makes some

48:06people nervous because we have different

48:08levels of controls and conversation but

48:12this is a very premature conversation in

48:14terms of where they're at. the

48:16conversation about $500,000 and whether

48:18it's spent out of reserves or bonded, I

48:22think you can make valid arguments for

48:24either side of that conversation and it

48:26wasn't our decision to be made. Um, the

48:29mayor has a seat at the table through

48:31appointments. The voters in Framingham

48:33are going to vote and the voters in

48:35Framingham that I know respect, admire,

48:38like the vocational school. Yes, we all

48:40have to be conscious of our pocketbooks

48:44and what things cost and I know you're

48:46looking at different options. I hope you

48:49collaborate with our school department

48:50as I know you do on enrollment because

48:53thankfully but for key vocational school

48:56we'd be building a new high school today

48:58because we'd be busting at the seams and

49:00for some of the other things that are

49:02going on. So, I for one am thankful and

49:04grateful for what you do in our

49:06community. And I'm hopeful that as our

49:08CFO puts together a five-year capital

49:10plan, which we've talked about, that

49:13there may be some ways for us to deal

49:15with some of our educational needs and

49:17other needs. Yes, this is going to take

49:19a big chunk of our commitment as a

49:22community,

49:24but let's be clear, a big chunk of our

49:26students go there, seek to go there, and

49:29have better lives and jobs because of

49:33what they learn and what they do there.

49:35So, thank you for your service. I hope

49:36you continue to advocate for students,

49:39and the process will work itself through

49:41as we go through that with the various

49:43options that you've yet to even review.

49:45So, thank you,

49:47>> Brian.

49:48Thank you.

49:49>> Hold on a second. Does anybody else want

49:50to speak first?

49:52Brian.

49:53>> Okay. Thank you. Um I just wanted to say

49:56that um no, I don't think any of us

49:59speak for everybody in the room, but um

50:01I understand the people on the finance

50:03committee. Obviously, they're going to

50:05be focused on finances, but I do have to

50:07say uh by the I always like straight

50:10talk. And I have to say that I did I did

50:13say in our our last meeting that I found

50:16it I thought it was uh not positive to

50:21ask um the candidates to come in to

50:24discuss that issue when we're going to

50:28be voting on their nomination. It seems

50:30like if you I think it could be uh

50:33pressure, right? Like if you don't take

50:37our concerns in consideration. Well, I

50:39will say tonight everybody,

50:42you know, wanted to make it clear that

50:44that wasn't the case, but it's been such

50:47a big issue for a long time, right, this

50:50year and contentious. And I and I do

50:53understand because, you know, when I was

50:54reading the materials and things over

50:56the times, I think that um

51:00[clears throat] people who have

51:01long-standing relationships and whatnot

51:03freely, you know, open, but I do I did

51:06understand the feeling of um being like

51:10um micromanaged, super controlled or

51:13whatever or there [snorts] might be a

51:14power uh issue in it, but they're saying

51:17it is purely concerned for the

51:20financial. But I what I would say though

51:22is that um Framingham chose to have

51:24Keith Tech in Framingham, right? And the

51:29formula of you know Hopington and what

51:32was the other one? Ashland versus what

51:34Framingham had, right? Um uh like the

51:38fact that we might be on the hook. Um

51:41that really isn't

51:43you guys are not at fault for that. And

51:45I and the history has shown that Ke you

51:49Keith Tech has always um tried to do as

51:54much as they could with whatever they

51:56had. You know, they you guys have shown

51:59fiscal restraint uh and whatnot and done

52:03as much as possible, you know, at at

52:05going forward. At least that is what um

52:07I've seen and I [clears throat] know I

52:10apologize because we all I've gotten

52:12invitations to the graduation every

52:14year. I'm usually busy every year. I'm

52:17like I'm going and the meetings, you

52:19know, I could attend those too. So as

52:22for being left out of the loop, I did

52:25not feel that. But that's, you know, I'm

52:28not on finance committee. But also um

52:32just the fact the record that Keith Tuck

52:34hasn't done badly financially by framing

52:36him in the past. So and all the schools

52:40it's like yes yes yes we want to build

52:43we want to build and you know a big

52:44campaign and and with not huge regard

52:49for how much it's going to cost. I mean

52:51obviously there's some but that isn't

52:53what is presented to the public. So I

52:57think the public can decide which

52:59project educational project if it comes

53:02down to that they would like to invest

53:04in first or last and I do think keep

53:07tech would be one um would be one of

53:09them. I think the people have sto spoken

53:12and as several parents said that um have

53:16been involved longer than I have with

53:18the schools like the differentiation

53:21between the schools. They said um

53:24[snorts] that

53:25not just this council but you know down

53:28the line that they need to stop treating

53:30Keith Tech as a a second last class

53:33citizen and one person um uh who's Irish

53:37said like a redheaded stepchild. So um

53:42that's just I'm saying that's the way

53:43they feel. I'm not saying that the uh

53:45people here, you know, are doing that,

53:48but I think that we probably could have

53:50been a more sensitive in how approaching

53:54it and not feeling like putting the just

53:58I think it was the method more in terms

54:00of how the concern was shown. So, I

54:03understand your feelings, but I hope um

54:06tonight we can [clears throat] put it

54:08all behind and go forward well. And I

54:11know I for one and and a lot of people

54:14here and in the community are happy to

54:16have you guys continue to do the work

54:19you do.

54:21>> May I say something?

54:23>> Yes.

54:24>> I think as Keith Tech school committee

54:28in general, we have heard your concerns.

54:32We have talked about them.

54:34We have

54:36looked at

54:38the work that kee is doing and how it's

54:43moving forward. So we haven't gone blind

54:46with this. We have studied different

54:50areas and we continue to look at it that

54:52way

54:53and going forward

54:56we will continue to do that.

54:59There's other members of of the

55:02committee. We are only a part of the

55:05committee and it is unprecedented and I

55:08and I agree this should have been

55:10handled in a different way. We are up

55:13for reappointment or new appointment.

55:16I don't think anybody has ever had to

55:18come and sit before school the council

55:21for this volunteer position. So I think

55:26going forward looking at it in a

55:28different way or dealing with it in a

55:30different way

55:32coming to the board coming to the

55:34committee and presenting your concerns

55:37instead of individually would also help.

55:40Um I know it's been presented the

55:44committee the school committee ke school

55:46committee has presented in other boards

55:48and other councils. So, um, I hope that

55:52we can continue to work together. I

55:55think we're all looking to make

55:58improvements to the school and the best

56:00for our students and that serve the

56:03community.

56:04>> Point of information, Mr. King, just can

56:06I say something? I councelor Bryant,

56:08with all due respect, this is the first

56:10year we got invited to the KEFE tech

56:11graduation because I asked when I was

56:12chair of the city council. We've always

56:14been invited to the pay frame public

56:15schools, but I wanted to go this year

56:17and we got invited finally, but we had a

56:19finance subcommittee because I had two

56:20friends that had kids graduating. So, it

56:22would have been a nice year to go and um

56:24show my respect for the school, but this

56:25is the first year we were invited to the

56:26Ke Tech at least in the last seven

56:28years. I've only been on the council

56:29seven years.

56:30>> Point of order. You mean um as a whole

56:32council cuz I've gotten an invitation

56:34>> maybe from family.

56:35>> All right. All right. We're off the

56:36subject here. Okay.

56:38>> And I don't have any kids at all.

56:39>> All right. Fine. We're off the subject

56:41here. I just have one brief question.

56:42Thank you for that statement. Now you

56:44say you have looked at this extensively,

56:46right? Is that is that what I heard you

56:48say?

56:48>> As a

56:49>> as a committee, right? Has the committee

56:51studied and discussed because this might

56:54um put me my my fears at ease by quite a

56:57bit. Has the committee studied and

56:59discussed the two potential different

57:01ways to finance a new school and the

57:03pros and cons of each of them?

57:06>> Yes.

57:07>> Okay. So, you've talked about the

57:09bonding option and you've talked about

57:11the election option.

57:12>> I think if I could get the chair that he

57:15would have more information.

57:16>> No, I'm not interested in that. I'm just

57:18asking from I'm sure he would, but I'm

57:20just asking in general if you guys

57:22discussed it.

57:23>> Yes.

57:23>> Okay. And have you committed to one of

57:26the two? I don't I'm not asking you to

57:27recite the the details, but have you

57:29committed to one of the two options?

57:32>> Me personally?

57:33>> No. committee

57:35has after your studies of these options

57:37has the committee uh committed to

57:40utilizing one of the two options.

57:43>> Well, I

57:44>> the chair is shaking his head so I guess

57:45the answer is no. Okay. And I think

57:47that's one of the most critical points

57:49because if you and not without getting

57:51too technical here, if you committed to

57:54the 16D option, I would have nothing

57:57else to say.

58:03So, I'd ask maybe go back and look at

58:05that.

58:07>> You attack when you're not supposed to

58:09attack.

58:10>> Who's attacking?

58:11>> You You're attacking us. You're

58:13attacking Keith Tech. You're attacking

58:14the town.

58:15>> I I

58:16>> You could smile all you want. Thank you.

58:18I go way back with you.

58:19>> I I you know, in all in all honesty, we

58:22don't go way back. I not sure we I'm not

58:25sure I've ever met you in person before.

58:28I I I I know your name and I know your

58:30reputation, but Mr. Stephanie, please.

58:33>> Just because you're the chair does not

58:34mean you can violate the decorum.

58:36>> I'm not violating any decorum.

58:38>> You're going back and forth and and

58:39bickering. Thank you. That's

58:41>> Thank you. But please. Anyways,

58:45um Okay. Is there any further

58:47discussion?

58:49All right. So, we'll take a vote. Miss

58:51Bryan, do you have something else?

58:52>> I was just saying Well, you you didn't

58:55start that.

58:55>> Yes. Thank you.

58:57Anyways, all right.

59:03All those in favor? Uh, Mr. Cannon,

59:07>> yes.

59:07>> Mr. Alexander,

59:09>> yes.

59:09>> Mr. Daviani,

59:10>> yes.

59:10>> Miss Malik,

59:11>> yes.

59:11>> Mr. Stephanie,

59:12>> yes.

59:12>> Mr. Bryant,

59:13>> yes.

59:14>> Myself, yes. Mr. Lamb Bruno,

59:15>> yes.

59:16>> Um, sorry, Miss Long.

59:19>> Yes.

59:20>> Mr. W. Yes. M.

59:22>> Yes.

59:23>> Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you for

59:25coming in.

59:27Thank you,

59:34>> Mr. Chairman.

59:35>> Yes.

59:35>> Could I just um I I can mention this

59:37during the mayor's report, but since

59:38it's on the matter, we thank you for

59:41sending the uh the agreement, the the

59:43regional agreement. Uh it did come to

59:45the council. Could we ask the mayor

59:47formally to investigate what

59:49modifications to that can be made so we

59:51can have more of a say? It's been a

59:53while since we've looked at it and I

59:54don't know that we formalized it when

59:56>> I don't want to take a vote on that

59:57tonight because it uh this is not on the

59:59agenda but we certainly could put it in

1:00:01the agenda and talk about in the future.

1:00:02>> Terrific. Thank you. And next is the

1:00:04report of the mayor.

1:00:07[clears throat]

1:00:12>> Yeah. Go ahead. You're the only mayor I

1:00:14know. So

1:00:16>> there's a few in training but he's the

1:00:18only one we know.

1:00:20plenty of training, man, but only but

1:00:22only one real mayor.

1:00:23>> That's right. [laughter]

1:00:25>> I have a num number of announcements to

1:00:27make tonight. Um, we we got very short

1:00:32notice from notification from Mass Dot

1:00:35that they plan to begin work on 126,

1:00:38Route 126, uh, from the Ash line to

1:00:41Winrip Street as early as next week.

1:00:44They're going to be adding sidewalks,

1:00:45curb cuts, crosswalks, and eventually

1:00:48they're going to repave that whole

1:00:49section uh that's under their

1:00:51jurisdiction. The multi-week project

1:00:54could extend into the spring depending

1:00:56on weather, how much work they can get

1:00:58done uh before bad weather comes on. A

1:01:03work may require alternating one-way

1:01:05traffic. Uh they originally wanted to

1:01:08start at 7 a.m. but city has requested

1:01:11that don't they do not start until 9:00

1:01:13a.m. Um we're working to coordinate with

1:01:16DPW public safety and mass dot to notify

1:01:20residents through neighborhood canvasing

1:01:22the website newsletter notify me and

1:01:25social media. And we're also

1:01:28translating all of those notices into

1:01:30different languages and that'll be

1:01:32taking place uh tomorrow. and um the

1:01:36announcements will be posted afterwards.

1:01:39Uh I also want to thank everyone who

1:01:41attended Saturday's second annual

1:01:43Framingham Fest. This year's crowd was

1:01:45larger than last year's and it was a

1:01:47wonderful community event. Want to thank

1:01:50co-chairs Eileen Davis and Courtney

1:01:52Sunclair Suncar. Um, Susan Patroni,

1:01:56James Palini, Brendan Wilkinson, Riard

1:01:59Shaw, Bernan Panero, [clears throat]

1:02:01Jill Schindler, and the rest of the

1:02:03committee uh, deserve a great deal of

1:02:05thanks for organizing this celebration

1:02:09in less than six months. Thanks also to

1:02:12Firmingham State University for their

1:02:13strong partnership. They allowed um, Max

1:02:17Larson. Uh we also want to thank Max

1:02:19Larson of Center Music for handling all

1:02:22the uh technical details on the stage

1:02:26with um the different groups that

1:02:29entertained and we also want to thank of

1:02:31course David Olyri who always does a

1:02:34wonderful job as an MC. The event

1:02:36featured more than 150 booths, food

1:02:39trucks, four hours of entertainment and

1:02:42a visit from Lieutenant Governor Kim

1:02:44Driscoll. We've already begun planning

1:02:47the third annual event uh that'll be

1:02:49held in approximately a year from now.

1:02:52There's a number of additional events

1:02:55coming up in the near future and I just

1:02:57want to go over them with you. Thursday,

1:03:00October 8th will be the season's final

1:03:02farmers market at Framingham Center

1:03:05Common. Hours for that day would be 3 to

1:03:086. be closing early obviously because of

1:03:12um [clears throat] the earlier sunsets.

1:03:14On Saturday, October 10th at 10 am

1:03:17there'll be a dedication of the Nick Bag

1:03:19Paganella Corner at Framingham Center

1:03:21Common. On Monday, October 12th from

1:03:25noon to 2 p.m. the city's 6th annual

1:03:28Indigenous People's Day event will be

1:03:30held at Edward's Church. On Tuesday,

1:03:33October 13th from 4 to 6:30 pm, the 7th

1:03:37annual spooktacular at the memorial

1:03:40building and including in Evans Hall uh

1:03:44will be held and everyone is encouraged

1:03:45to attend in costume and to do

1:03:48trick-or-treating throughout the the the

1:03:51building. On Wednesday, October 14th at

1:03:543 PM, the city in UMass Boston will

1:03:57present the senior survey at the

1:03:59Callahan Center. And I'll basically

1:04:01[clears throat]

1:04:02be repeating what they're going to be

1:04:04saying here tonight. on Wednesday

1:04:06evening. Uh, also Wednesday evening, the

1:04:09city's first Hispanic and Latino

1:04:11Heritage Month honors ceremony will be

1:04:14held at the memorial building and

1:04:16they'll be recognizing over a dozen

1:04:18individuals and the public is uh,

1:04:21invited to attend.

1:04:24I also want to point out that

1:04:25applications for Team Framingham runners

1:04:27and organizations closed yesterday.

1:04:30runner applications reached a record of

1:04:33111 applications and over 17

1:04:36organizations applied for the five

1:04:38charity spots. The lottery will be held

1:04:41next Monday, October 19th at 6:30 p.m.

1:04:45in Memorial Building. Um, we recently

1:04:48met with the Boston Athletic Association

1:04:51and we are pleased to learn that um,

1:04:53they will be increasing the payment they

1:04:56make to the city to offset some of the

1:04:58city's cost with um, handling the

1:05:02arrangements for the marathon. And

1:05:04they've also indicated that they will be

1:05:06increasing the number of three free

1:05:08three free runner bibs that they grant

1:05:11to the city that the team Framingham

1:05:15passes out.

1:05:17Two other things I want to mention very

1:05:19quickly. The finance committee recently

1:05:22discussed the

1:05:24mun municipal aggregation adder fee

1:05:28that's attached to the aggregation uh

1:05:31fees for uh people who chose to join the

1:05:35municipal aggregation program. The

1:05:38finance committee after long discussion

1:05:40the finance committee voted to recommend

1:05:43to the council that this adder be

1:05:46discontinued.

1:05:47Now, I have the authority to discontinue

1:05:50it, and we have a letter ready to go to

1:05:54discontinue it, but I'm reluctant to do

1:05:57that until and unless the full city

1:05:59council votes to ask me to do that. So,

1:06:03I'm waiting for the report of the

1:06:05finance committee to be brought to the

1:06:06full council.

1:06:08>> I wasn't even aware that it wasn't. So,

1:06:09we can get that on. And the other thing

1:06:11I want to just add to you is that uh at

1:06:14the M MWRTA meeting last week, I was

1:06:19appointed um I was voted to be the

1:06:21chairman of the new at the advisory

1:06:23board and that's my report.

1:06:27>> Okay, any questions for the mayor? Miss

1:06:29Feny and Miss Malik.

1:06:32>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Hello, Mr. Mayor.

1:06:34And again, thank you so much to you and

1:06:35your team for Firmingham Fest. It was I

1:06:38I had a lot of fun, that's for sure. Um,

1:06:41so in a in a couple minutes we're going

1:06:42to be talking about senior things, but I

1:06:43I have just one question that's not

1:06:45related to the survey. The Council on

1:06:47Aging, the chair has come to this

1:06:50meeting talking about their quorum

1:06:52issues. I know that some of the members

1:06:54of the COA have emailed you and your

1:06:56team. Uh, another member of the COA

1:06:59resigned last week. Her um my

1:07:02understanding is that her her term had

1:07:04ended in the summer and she did not hear

1:07:06if she was being reappointed. So, she

1:07:09resigned. That leaves uh which a group

1:07:13that is already having a quorum issue

1:07:14really in dire straits. Um they're

1:07:16looking at not being able to have a

1:07:18meeting in November because one of their

1:07:19members won't is unavailable. So, I'm

1:07:22just looking to see when you're

1:07:23expecting to make appointments to the

1:07:25council on aging uh and when we can get

1:07:28that going because I know they're really

1:07:29anxious to do some work especially in

1:07:31light of the this survey.

1:07:33>> Okay. Uh I'm aware of the issues

1:07:35surrounding that and we're sensitive to

1:07:37that. Um it's my understanding that some

1:07:41proposals are in the process of being

1:07:43made to reorganize the Council on Aging

1:07:46and which could possibly change uh the

1:07:48makeup of the committee. and I'm kind of

1:07:51reluctant to rush to fill some of the

1:07:54existing vacancies until um it's

1:07:58determined by the city council whether

1:08:01the reorganization uh will be put forth

1:08:04and and approved. Um I understand that

1:08:08that could happen in the very near

1:08:10future. If it doesn't happen, I'll we'll

1:08:13repost all those vacant positions and

1:08:16get uh new nominees uh presented to the

1:08:19council as soon as possible.

1:08:21>> Just one followup.

1:08:22>> Uh has this been communicated to the

1:08:24council on aging? And does this mean

1:08:26they're on hiatus?

1:08:27>> I don't know. I'm not working on it

1:08:29directly. I know some people are. I

1:08:32don't know who they've communicated

1:08:34with.

1:08:34>> Okay. because that they're they're I

1:08:37know that they really want to be able to

1:08:38do their job and to do it well and I'm

1:08:41very concerned that we're

1:08:43>> I will that and you made a good point. I

1:08:46will reach out to the chair of the

1:08:48council on aging and inform her that

1:08:51that's the reason why there's this been

1:08:53this slight delay in filling those

1:08:56vacancies.

1:08:56>> It's on our next agenda.

1:08:59The reorganization proposal is on the

1:09:01next agenda.

1:09:02>> Oh, okay. And has this come from the

1:09:04Council on Aging? Uh this re another

1:09:07reorg of the uh senior world?

1:09:10>> No.

1:09:12>> Okay. Thank you.

1:09:16>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to echo

1:09:19that Freem Fest was really fun and

1:09:21really awesome and very full and

1:09:22vibrant. Um, and follow up on a

1:09:24conversation we had a couple weeks ago

1:09:26about here in the municipal bill

1:09:27building and the fact that there's no

1:09:29baby changing tables at all here,

1:09:31particularly with Spooktacular coming up

1:09:33and again lots of kids in the building.

1:09:35I'm wondering if there's any update on

1:09:36when we might get changing tables.

1:09:39>> Well, as you know, uh, we're just about

1:09:42finished with the complete redesign for

1:09:45making all the bathrooms in this

1:09:46building accessible and adding bathrooms

1:09:49and the new design will have those

1:09:51features. Um, right now there's no plans

1:09:54to do maybe changing tables or anything

1:09:57like that unless there's some way we can

1:09:59put in um temporary ones. I will look

1:10:03into that. I

1:10:04>> I think it's a little embarrassing in

1:10:052026 to say we don't have there's no

1:10:08baby changing tables in this building.

1:10:10>> It's a lot more embarrassing about this

1:10:11building than not having baby changing

1:10:13tables.

1:10:14>> Fair enough. um feels like there's a

1:10:17pretty lowhanging fruit in terms of a

1:10:19solution to this one at least before the

1:10:22full bathroom redesign.

1:10:25>> Okay. Anybody else for the mayor? Okay,

1:10:28seeing none.

1:10:29>> Next is

1:10:30>> Mike's hand.

1:10:31>> Oh,

1:10:33go ahead. I didn't see any to see you.

1:10:36>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a any um

1:10:38quick update. Thank you for the update.

1:10:39Uh at the last meeting we talked about a

1:10:41lot of different things and and I hope

1:10:42we can continue to have that dialogue on

1:10:44a regular basis. Um any update on the

1:10:47progress for a new or interim chief

1:10:48operating officer?

1:10:53Yes. Um we're we've advertised for it.

1:10:56We're reviewing um we're reviewing

1:10:58applications. Uh we've reached out to

1:11:01the applicants to let them know that

1:11:03we'll probably be having an answer for

1:11:05them in the next few weeks. I'm

1:11:06exploring other

1:11:08possible options for filling that. Um,

1:11:12and uh, I may have something to announce

1:11:15at the next meeting.

1:11:16>> Okay, terrific. And when does it make

1:11:18sense for us to have an update on thing

1:11:20some of the other things that we talked

1:11:21about that we didn't get at the last

1:11:23meeting? Um, 61 Lincoln Street came up.

1:11:26Um, the former Amazing Things Art

1:11:28Center, kind of our overall portfolio of

1:11:31just revisiting some of the vision

1:11:32things. 61 Lincoln is of course

1:11:34particular importance for a number of

1:11:35reasons. Um

1:11:39well, we had that big review the other

1:11:42night because it was that that fifth

1:11:44Tuesday of the month. Um

1:11:46>> those weren't on

1:11:47>> Yeah, there we don't have one coming up

1:11:49in the near future. Um but if you want

1:11:52to put it on the agenda, any of those

1:11:54items on the agenda, we'll be happy to

1:11:56schedule reports. Well, prior to that

1:11:59meeting, I had asked specifically about

1:12:0161 Lincoln because it's the home to the

1:12:03VA. It's next to the I mean, is there

1:12:06anything you can share with us now if

1:12:08you'd like us to put it on the You know

1:12:09what? That's a good idea. Mr. Mr.

1:12:11Chairman, could we add 61 Lincoln?

1:12:12>> I'll be happy to give you a quick

1:12:14update. As a matter of fact, I talked to

1:12:15Dr. Adams this afternoon.

1:12:17>> Well, if we're if you want to do that,

1:12:18fine. Otherwise, we'll put it on the

1:12:19agenda. Which would be better?

1:12:21>> If you have something now, I'd love to

1:12:22hear that. That's great. Uh, I met with

1:12:24Dr. Adams um a few weeks ago and we

1:12:28talked about resurrecting some of the

1:12:30previous discussions we had in terms of

1:12:34um working with them to uh resolve some

1:12:37of the the financial issues and um I

1:12:41talked to him. We I I've got more

1:12:44information from different sources and I

1:12:47talked to him again today and made a

1:12:49suggestion to him that he's going to go

1:12:52back and talk to his co-rustee and talk

1:12:55to the lawyer who represents the trust

1:12:58and uh present us with a an um request

1:13:03to revise the existing lease to enable a

1:13:08city to adjust the rent payments. the

1:13:11pilot payments and they're working on

1:13:14that. He seems uh encouraged by that

1:13:17opportunity and um we're going to see

1:13:20what happens in the next few weeks. If

1:13:22they submit that letter, um we'll study

1:13:25it and u put together a series of

1:13:27recommendations for the council.

1:13:29>> Okay. And I know you're in constant

1:13:30communication with the u the leadership

1:13:32of the hospital. Um making sure that we

1:13:34have a medical office building next to

1:13:36the hospital is a very important of

1:13:37great importance to the community. I was

1:13:39uh had the uh uh pleasure of talking to

1:13:42the uh C CEO of the hospital on Saturday

1:13:47at the at the metro at uh Framingham

1:13:50Fest and I suggested that it's probably

1:13:54about time for him to come into the city

1:13:56council and give an update on this first

1:13:59year or so and what's going on in the

1:14:01hospital and um give everybody an update

1:14:04and he was very agreeable to do that.

1:14:06I'm sure however the council can be

1:14:07helpful to to the success of our

1:14:09thriving hospital. And the last thing is

1:14:11it's probably time to revisit a mayoral

1:14:13level meeting with some leadership at

1:14:15the VA regionally so that their

1:14:17long-term plans include hopefully that

1:14:19building but certainly downtown

1:14:20Framingham. Thank you for the update.

1:14:22That was very helpful to me. Thank you.

1:14:23Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1:14:24>> Thank you. Next is an update from the

1:14:25city clerk.

1:14:48get situated.

1:14:52>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good evening,

1:14:54councilors. My name is Lisa Ferguson.

1:14:57I'm the city clerk in Framingham. And

1:14:59tonight I am going to give you an over

1:15:01an overview informational about the

1:15:04upcoming midterm election. And I do have

1:15:07a PowerPoint.

1:15:10So if we can go to the next slide,

1:15:12please.

1:15:16[clears throat]

1:15:17Um, so this is going to be an overview.

1:15:19I could talk literally for days on end

1:15:22about all the details revolving all

1:15:24around what makes an election and what

1:15:26we do and what's important to the

1:15:28voters. So, um the question that is

1:15:30going to come to your mind immediately

1:15:32is where where do I find all these

1:15:34details? So, if you were to go to the um

1:15:39the website framinghammma.gov,

1:15:42the main screen comes up and you're

1:15:44going to see three blue buttons on the

1:15:46left hand side. Um you're going to press

1:15:48on the middle button that says elections

1:15:51and voting.

1:15:53Um also um you also can get a lot of

1:15:56information from the newsletter. Um it

1:15:58comes out on a weekly basis and also

1:16:00when you're on the main page you can

1:16:03sign up to get the newsletter. Um the

1:16:05there's been information about the

1:16:07upcoming election for the last couple of

1:16:09weeks and it's going to continue until

1:16:12um the election itself. So, if we can go

1:16:14to the next slide,

1:16:19this is what's going to pop up when you

1:16:20click on that button. It has a schedule

1:16:24of all of our events. Um, you will see

1:16:27on the left hand side that there are

1:16:29tabs that you can press. There's

1:16:31information on how to register to vote.

1:16:33You can check your voter registration

1:16:35status. You can check where your polling

1:16:37location is. You can track your ballot

1:16:39if you're voting by mail. Um, you can

1:16:42find out information on how to vote by

1:16:44mail, how to vote early in person, how

1:16:46to vote on election day, how to vote by

1:16:48absentee ballot, what all the

1:16:51requirements are. There's also a button

1:16:53to sample your uh you can look at your

1:16:55sample ballot.

1:16:57There is a link to all of the ballot

1:17:00questions. It goes directly to the

1:17:02Secretary of the Commonwealth website.

1:17:04The questions, uh, there's summaries,

1:17:07what a yes vote means, what a no vote

1:17:10means.

1:17:11and it's in all different languages and

1:17:14there's also an audio book there as

1:17:16well. Um, and we do have information on

1:17:20this web page for voters with

1:17:22disabilities.

1:17:24So, if we can go to the next slide.

1:17:28The date of the state election is

1:17:30November 3rd, 2026. The polls open at

1:17:337:00 a.m. and they close at 8:00 p.m. If

1:17:37you are a voter who is standing in line

1:17:39and has not checked in at 8:00 p.m., a

1:17:42police officer will announce that the

1:17:44polls are closed, but if you are

1:17:45standing in line, you still have a right

1:17:48to cast your ballot. Um, the reason why

1:17:52I'm bringing this up, a typical

1:17:54election, you don't normally see lines.

1:17:56Um, but because we have so much on the

1:18:00ballot this year, um, there are going to

1:18:03be longer than normal wait times. So, we

1:18:07we really appreciate everybody's

1:18:09patience and understanding um while we

1:18:12get everyone able to cast their ballot

1:18:15if you vote in person.

1:18:17Next slide, please.

1:18:22These are the 12 offices that are on the

1:18:24ballot.

1:18:26You can go to the next slide

1:18:31and these are the nine questions that

1:18:33are on the ballot. Um

1:18:36the subject line is coming from the book

1:18:40that was delivered to you. It's all

1:18:43households received a red book. It's

1:18:45known as the red book. It's the

1:18:47Massachusetts information for voters

1:18:49[clears throat]

1:18:50and um the subject is coming from each

1:18:53of those nine questions. Um as far as

1:18:56the questions go, as the city clerk, as

1:19:00my department, members of my election

1:19:03staff, um the city clerk's department,

1:19:06we are not able to talk about any

1:19:08candidates that are on the ballot, what

1:19:09they rep represent, who they are. Um and

1:19:13also the same goes for the questions. We

1:19:16cannot tell voters whether it is on

1:19:18election day or they come into our

1:19:20office to vote absentee. We are not able

1:19:23to discuss what these questions mean. Um

1:19:28again, what a yes vote means, what a no

1:19:30vote means, to give a summarization of

1:19:32that. We have to stay clear of that and

1:19:34stay neutral. We're here to carry out

1:19:36the election. We can certainly tell you

1:19:38how to fill in an oval. Um but we cannot

1:19:41talk about the questions. that is up to

1:19:43the voters to do their homework. Um, and

1:19:46again, the secretary has mailed out

1:19:49these red books to each household so

1:19:52that you can do your homework prior to

1:19:54casting your vote. So, if we can go to

1:19:56the next slide,

1:19:59this probably looks very familiar to

1:20:01people. This is the red book. It

1:20:03contains everything that you need to

1:20:04know about what is on your ballot. Um,

1:20:08my favorite page is the last page. Not

1:20:10that because it's over, um, but because

1:20:13it is a checklist and this is going to

1:20:15be a very helpful tool for voters,

1:20:18especially if you're voting in person.

1:20:21Um, I found out that all of our assisted

1:20:24living facilities are havingformational

1:20:26sessions, uh, nursing homes, and

1:20:29everyone has their checklist. And so

1:20:32they are checking off how they're going

1:20:34to vote after they discuss the questions

1:20:36and the candidates. So you can fill that

1:20:39out. So I'm if you could go to the next

1:20:41slide. This is just a copy of um the

1:20:45checklist what it looks like. So a voter

1:20:48can ahead of going to the polls, whether

1:20:51it's early voting or on election day,

1:20:52they can fill out this very resourceful

1:20:57uh checklist and bring it with them to

1:21:00the polls. they can bring it into the

1:21:01booth. It can help them determine

1:21:04quickly and make those lines go shorter

1:21:07how they're going to vote. We just ask

1:21:09that if you do [clears throat] bring

1:21:10this checklist with you that if you take

1:21:12it you take it with you after you leave

1:21:14the booth.

1:21:16Um just to back up a little bit, the the

1:21:19so the red books have been mailed out. I

1:21:21know that there are a handful of people

1:21:22that have not received it happens all

1:21:24the times that but um people have not

1:21:27received their red books um from the

1:21:30secretary of the commonwealth. There is

1:21:32a large supply in the city clerk's

1:21:34office. We are going to have those red

1:21:35books at every polling location and also

1:21:39early voting location.

1:21:41They are also available at the branch

1:21:44libraries. There's a very large supply

1:21:46um and also at the Callahan Center. We

1:21:49do have these red books in Spanish and

1:21:52we also have large print English books.

1:21:56Uh very very healthy supply if people

1:21:58are having trouble reading those red

1:22:00books.

1:22:03We also have a print out of those um the

1:22:06checklist there as well. So you can pick

1:22:08those up at those locations.

1:22:11Okay. So, because there are so many

1:22:14questions on the ballot and um the

1:22:17summaries are rather long,

1:22:20typically you would see like a city

1:22:22election ballot, 8 1/2 by 11

1:22:24singlesided, but and a typical state

1:22:27election ballot is about 8 and 1 half by

1:22:3014, a legal size, and there's usually

1:22:32printing on both sides. In this case, um

1:22:37there are two cards to the ballot which

1:22:40is considered a a set. So on your first

1:22:43card

1:22:45on the front are all the offices and

1:22:48some of the questions. Turning the first

1:22:50card on the back they the questions

1:22:53continue and then on the second card you

1:22:56have questions eight and nine. And just

1:22:58for

1:22:59so everyone can see what I'm talking

1:23:01about and not looking at a screen.

1:23:0618 inches long. This is the front. I

1:23:09know councilini is shaking her head.

1:23:12Yeah. Um

1:23:14you turn it over. The questions continue

1:23:17on the back

1:23:19and then part of your set. We have a

1:23:22second card.

1:23:25Questions eight and nine. So again,

1:23:29thankfully we don't have multiple

1:23:31languages. I think Boston's ballot is

1:23:34eight pages long.

1:23:36Um, so this is a set. We ask that

1:23:39whether you're voting by mail or you're

1:23:41voting in person to keep the two cards

1:23:44together whether you vote on them or

1:23:46not. Okay.

1:23:51Fun.

1:23:53Okay, if we could go to the next slide,

1:23:56these are your voting options. You can

1:23:58vote by mail, you can vote early in

1:24:00person, and you can vote at the polls. I

1:24:03know it's a little difficult to see

1:24:04what's on the screen as far as the

1:24:06schedule goes. Um, the schedule is on

1:24:09our website. It's also printed at the

1:24:11libraries, the Callahan Center, and the

1:24:13clerk's office. So, if we can go to the

1:24:16next slide.

1:24:20So, there are three options for voters

1:24:22if you would like to vote in person.

1:24:27The first is to vote in person on

1:24:29election day. Polls are open from 7:00

1:24:31a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The second option

1:24:33is to vote in person during the early

1:24:36voting sessions

1:24:38and there is no excuse needed. The third

1:24:41is if you would like to vote in person

1:24:44at the city clerk's office by absentee

1:24:46ballot. The eligibility is a registered

1:24:49voter who is unable to vote at the polls

1:24:51on election day due to an absence from

1:24:54Framingham during polling hours or if

1:24:57they have a disability or they have a

1:24:59religious belief that prevents them to

1:25:02from going to the polls on election day.

1:25:05A couple of examples of a registered

1:25:07voter who's going to be absent um

1:25:09between 7 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on November

1:25:123rd would be someone who is on vacation,

1:25:16somebody who is on a business trip, some

1:25:19a voter who is simply potentially works

1:25:23in Boston. They leave their house at

1:25:256:30 in the morning on election day and

1:25:26they come back at nine o'clock at night.

1:25:29They would be eligible to cast their

1:25:31ballot by absentee. They certainly can

1:25:33take part in the early vote voting

1:25:36session. If they don't work on weekends

1:25:39um for two weeks in a two weekends in a

1:25:41row, we will be here on weekends

1:25:43[clears throat]

1:25:44um with our early voting session. Um but

1:25:46we just received the ballots a few days

1:25:48ago. And so we have these ballots in our

1:25:53office. If somebody knows that they are

1:25:55not going to be here during the polling

1:25:58hours on election day and they want to

1:25:59cast an absentee ballot in person, they

1:26:03can come tomorrow morning if they want

1:26:05to. They know [clears throat] they're

1:26:06going to be absent and they can ask to

1:26:08vote by absentee.

1:26:12Next slide, please.

1:26:14There are three options to vote by mail.

1:26:17You can vote by mail early and you have

1:26:20to complete a mail-in application

1:26:22annually.

1:26:24Um, an absentee voter does not have to

1:26:26vote in person. They can also vote by

1:26:28mail. They would fill out a an absentee

1:26:30ballot application and they would um

1:26:33they would just have to, you know, be

1:26:36under those uh three excuses that I

1:26:38discussed earlier. And also for citizens

1:26:41living abroad or in the military, they

1:26:43can apply for a ballot using a federal

1:26:46postcard application.

1:26:48Um, examples of people in the military

1:26:51are people who are in the armed forces,

1:26:54they're in the merchant marines, um, and

1:26:56any spouses or dependents as well. So,

1:27:00if we can go to the next slide.

1:27:04>> And we do have an option for u our

1:27:08residents who are registered voters and

1:27:10disabled. Back in 2022, the votes acts

1:27:14passed and part of that um vote acts

1:27:17expanded access to ballots in

1:27:20Massachusetts. And the key piece of

1:27:23legislation allows voters who are blind,

1:27:26sight impaired, have dexterity or other

1:27:29issues which prohibit them from marking

1:27:32their ballots independently.

1:27:35They can request the ballot. they can

1:27:37mark the ballot and return their ballot

1:27:40electronically using their home

1:27:42computers, their home devices

1:27:44independently and privately. This

1:27:47happened only a handful of years ago.

1:27:51Um, this has been a huge success. In

1:27:54your background material, you will see a

1:27:56PowerPoint presentation. I went before

1:27:59the disability commission in 2023,

1:28:02presented this to the disabled members

1:28:04of Framingham, giving them the option to

1:28:07take advantage of this. There's also on

1:28:10the web page, there's also a link that

1:28:13describes everything. If someone is

1:28:15interested and they fall under this

1:28:17category, they can also call my office

1:28:19and we'll help them through the process.

1:28:22Um,

1:28:24it's huge. It's it's it's it's it's the

1:28:27greatest thing that has happened and and

1:28:29I just can't believe it only happened a

1:28:31couple of years ago. So, I'm really

1:28:32excited about this. There's been great

1:28:35participation. Um, so this is a a great

1:28:38option for our disabled voters.

1:28:41So, if we can go to the next slide,

1:28:45I just want to review some dates to

1:28:46remember. Of course, the election day is

1:28:48November 3rd. Voter registration

1:28:50deadline is Saturday, October 24th at

1:28:535:00 p.m. in person. That is a Saturday.

1:28:56Um, and it's also 11:59 p.m. online.

1:29:00Vote by mail application deadline,

1:29:02whether it's vote by mail absentee or

1:29:05early, the deadline is a week before the

1:29:07election, 5:00 p.m. on October 27th. If

1:29:11you know you want to vote by mail, I

1:29:13strongly and suggest that you turn in

1:29:17your application as soon as possible. Do

1:29:19not wait until the last minute. Um, we

1:29:22need a little bit of time to get that

1:29:24ballot out to you. We are required under

1:29:26the law to send it through the post

1:29:28office. You can choose the method on how

1:29:31you want to get it [clears throat] back

1:29:31to us, but we have to send it through

1:29:33the mail. Um, so that's the deadline.

1:29:36Early voting period starts Saturday,

1:29:40October 17th. It runs straight through

1:29:42every single day until Friday, October

1:29:4530th. Weekends, including at the

1:29:47memorial building. That's a legal

1:29:49requirement that we have it here. Um,

1:29:52the McAuliffe is a a satellite location,

1:29:55not required under the law, but we have

1:29:58a wonderful partnership with the

1:29:59libraries and every every time this

1:30:02[clears throat] comes around for early

1:30:03voting in person. Uh, they're great to

1:30:06work with. So, we're able to secure

1:30:08early voting at the McAuliffe starting

1:30:11on Monday, October 19th, running through

1:30:14Friday, October 30th. and just check our

1:30:17website or call my office for for hours.

1:30:20There are limited hours there.

1:30:24If we could go to the next slide.

1:30:27Just some additional information. A lot

1:30:29of people have been calling us um the

1:30:32last couple of days wondering where is

1:30:34my ballot? Um my neighbor got their

1:30:37ballot. I don't have my ballot. Nic uh

1:30:40my friend Nate got their ballot. Where

1:30:43is my ballot? my partner in the same

1:30:46household got their ballot. Where is my

1:30:49ballot? Um,

1:30:51so we send out the ballots. We we have

1:30:55over 10,000 people voting by mail.

1:30:57That's a quarter of our um total

1:30:59registered voters. Almost a quarter. We

1:31:01have 44,000 registered voters in

1:31:03Framingham. Um we are up to about 80 81%

1:31:09of getting the ballots out to people.

1:31:12So, we have about another 2,000 or so to

1:31:14go. We will do that in the next couple

1:31:16of days. Um, the reason behind maybe one

1:31:20person in a household getting their

1:31:22ballot and the other person not, is

1:31:24because the way we send them out is in

1:31:27the order that we receive the

1:31:28application.

1:31:30We don't want to say, "Let's send out

1:31:32this particular state representatives

1:31:34ballads or let's do the south side

1:31:38versus the north side or the or this

1:31:40precinct or that precinct." So, we

1:31:42thought it would be fair that whoever

1:31:44applied for their vote by mail um ballot

1:31:47in January, February, March, those are

1:31:50the people that are going to get them

1:31:51first. So, keep that in mind next time

1:31:53you apply. Um so, we're through until

1:31:56the beginning of se September. We've got

1:31:58about another 2,000 to go. And again, we

1:32:01should be getting those out in the next

1:32:02couple of days.

1:32:04Okay. So,

1:32:07the debate, what is the best method of

1:32:09getting your vote by mail ballot back to

1:32:11the city clerk's office? People are

1:32:14always calling and asking, "What do what

1:32:16do you think? What should we do the

1:32:18dropboxes or should we do the post

1:32:21office?" Um,

1:32:25so my thought is is once you get your

1:32:29vote by mail ballot, turn vote

1:32:32immediately and turn it in. I highly

1:32:35suggest that you use the dropboxes.

1:32:37Every clerk across the Commonwealth is

1:32:40going to tell you to use the dropboxes.

1:32:43They are safe. They are secure. And they

1:32:46are other than coming into my office and

1:32:49handing it to me. That's the best method

1:32:51to get it back. You're cutting out the

1:32:53middle person. You're taking away an

1:32:56extra two days because they have changed

1:32:59their method of distributing ballads in

1:33:03Framingham and across the Commonwealth.

1:33:06Um we every day bring

1:33:10yesterday we brought 22 huge

1:33:13[clears throat] bins full of ballots to

1:33:14the post office. They used to keep all

1:33:18the frame the ones that were delivered

1:33:19in Framingham in Framingham

1:33:22and sometimes if we went there early

1:33:24enough they would put them on the mail

1:33:28carriers trucks and get it out the same

1:33:30day or

1:33:34the next day

1:33:36there's a new P postmaster and now the

1:33:40it has changed.

1:33:42Now we still handd deliver it to the

1:33:45post office. They send it to Boston to

1:33:48the bulk mail to be sorted.

1:33:52Couple of days later it comes back and

1:33:54then it gets mailed to you.

1:33:59>> We're not doing anything diff different.

1:34:01We are required under the law to mail

1:34:03you your ballot. So again, we are

1:34:06working around the clock. We have worked

1:34:08all weekend long. We are working long

1:34:10hours to get your ballot out to you.

1:34:13Again, use the dropboxes. Um, they're

1:34:16there. There are fantastic for the

1:34:19voters or drop it off in my office. So,

1:34:22if we can go to the next slide.

1:34:28These are our dropboxes. There are

1:34:30outside dropboxes. One at McAuliffe

1:34:33Library, one at right behind the

1:34:35memorial building. There are large

1:34:37banners that are hanging right above the

1:34:39dropboxes directing you to where to drop

1:34:42off your ballot. You you literally can

1:34:45see these signs from space. They're so

1:34:47big. And so when if you come to the

1:34:52memorial building, there are going to be

1:34:54voter parking only spots. You can pull

1:34:56right in, put it in the dropbox. You can

1:34:58walk it into the city clerk's office.

1:35:01And until early voting starts, I have a

1:35:03mini dropbox right outside my office. If

1:35:06it's raining out and you want to just

1:35:07put it in, that's fine. Um, just to make

1:35:11everybody aware that we do check these

1:35:13drop box drop boxes at least once a day.

1:35:17Um, sometimes multiple times and they

1:35:21are secure. There's 24-hour video

1:35:24surveillance. I have recently spoken

1:35:27with the police chief and he is

1:35:28informing all of his patrol officers on

1:35:31the north side and the south side to

1:35:33keep their eyes on this drop on these

1:35:35two dropboxes. We also have fire

1:35:39suppression devices in these boxes. So

1:35:42if anyone were to try to tamper with

1:35:46these boxes, um it would not allow your

1:35:50ballots to be damaged in any way. And

1:35:53again, we do empty these throughout the

1:35:55day, at least once a day. Um,

1:35:59if you're voting by mail, track your

1:36:02ballot. You can see if if we've received

1:36:05your ballot and it's accepted, it's

1:36:07going to be counted. And again, these

1:36:09dropboxes are there for that reason. One

1:36:13thing I want to say before I finish up

1:36:15with the dropboxes is that um if you are

1:36:19a Framingham voter, you have to use

1:36:21these dropboxes. Please don't drop it

1:36:23off in Welssley or Swampscott or

1:36:26wherever you're working and thinking,

1:36:28"Oh, there's one right down the street

1:36:29from me. I'm just going to put it in.

1:36:31This is not a mailbox." So,

1:36:34it would be unfortunate. But if, say,

1:36:37for example, you've got your ballot, you

1:36:39dropped it off in a Boston dropbox, city

1:36:42clerk's going to call me up and say, "I

1:36:44have a ballad for Framingham,

1:36:47and I'm going to go get it because you

1:36:49know me. I'm going to go get it. I've

1:36:52driven very far to get my ballads." So,

1:36:55um, so that's all I'm going to say about

1:36:56that. Um, if we can go to the next

1:36:58slide.

1:37:00So, I want to thank you very much for

1:37:02allowing me to give you this overview.

1:37:04again, go to the website, sign up for

1:37:06that newsletter, watch social media,

1:37:09call me. I've done presentations at the

1:37:12Callahan Center, um, roundt discussions,

1:37:15happy to meet with you, even though

1:37:17we're like out straight busy. But I do

1:37:20want to take this time, if I may, Mr.

1:37:22Chair, I want to say thank you to my

1:37:24very small, hardworking staff. um the

1:37:27city council department, the two ladies

1:37:30that are in there, Marian and Kathy,

1:37:32have been instrumental in getting the

1:37:34ballots out. Um um the obviously the

1:37:38city clerk's office, the election

1:37:39department, but this is a massive

1:37:42undertaking. So, we don't work in a

1:37:44silo. We collaborate with almost every

1:37:47single department across the entire city

1:37:49from the big um departments, the

1:37:52divisions. Facilities management is

1:37:54instrumental in helping us, the schools,

1:37:57the library, police, fire, DPW,

1:38:01almost every single department in the

1:38:02memorial building, the Callahan Center.

1:38:04Um I thank you so much for your

1:38:07collaboration from to make this a

1:38:09successful event. Um we can't do this

1:38:11alone. And one final statement to

1:38:15remember to be patient, be understanding

1:38:19if there are long lines on election day,

1:38:22and remember to be kind to your election

1:38:24workers. There have been times,

1:38:26thankfully, we're not on a battleground

1:38:29state. You know, we don't have our lives

1:38:32or our famil family's lives threatened.

1:38:34It's it's it's a reality and it's awful.

1:38:38We live in Massachusetts. We live in

1:38:40Framingham. It's great. Our election

1:38:42workers have been trained to handle

1:38:44everything on election day. Um they're

1:38:46working very long hours. So please thank

1:38:49them. Be kind to them. They're going to

1:38:52try to make that line move as quickly as

1:38:54possible. They're essential to our safe,

1:38:57secure, and accessible election. And

1:38:59they are the lifeblood of democracy. So

1:39:01I thank you very much.

1:39:03>> Okay. Thank you very much.

1:39:05Any questions?

1:39:07Okay. Oh, go ahead.

1:39:09>> Just a comment. I thought you were going

1:39:10to say something just to say thank you

1:39:12for making our elections safe and secure

1:39:15locally and to all of the people who

1:39:17work with you.

1:39:18>> Thank you.

1:39:19>> Thank you.

1:39:20>> I wasn't going to say anything much

1:39:22different, but just um as someone who

1:39:24sees firsthand uh what uh pole workers

1:39:26go through um and the prep that goes

1:39:29into it and angst that they do a good

1:39:32job.

1:39:34Um thank you to all of them. they do a

1:39:36great job and and I always feel so

1:39:38secure with the work that you and your

1:39:40team do to make sure that democracy

1:39:43happens. Um so thank you again and um

1:39:46this presentation was wonderful. Thank

1:39:48you.

1:39:50>> Um I I want to echo that that this

1:39:52presentation was great and I like all

1:39:55the detail. It seems like the website um

1:39:59just gets better every year, more

1:40:01information, but easy to get to. If you

1:40:04hit one button, there's multiple ways to

1:40:08get the information on the website and

1:40:11it coordinates very well. So, um that

1:40:14helps a lot of people because when you

1:40:16recommend people going to the website,

1:40:18if they get frustrated, you know, then

1:40:20they're like, "Oh, great." They come

1:40:21back and complain. But I haven't had any

1:40:24of those complaints and I love the

1:40:26commitment of um the happy team in the

1:40:30city clerk's office and um yeah, thank

1:40:33you for the democracy. I had a question

1:40:36but I don't even remember it so I'll

1:40:38call you tomorrow. [laughter]

1:40:40>> Well, thank you very

1:40:42>> thank you very much for coming in and

1:40:43going through the presentation tonight

1:40:44and waiting for us to get to it.

1:40:47>> Thank you.

1:40:47>> Thank you. Okay, next on the agenda is a

1:40:51informal I'm sorry a presentation by the

1:40:53University of Massachusetts Boston

1:40:55Callahan Center combination upon the

1:40:57results of their recent survey

1:41:00>> from here.

1:41:01>> Yeah, absolutely. Over here it' probably

1:41:03be more comfortable.

1:41:06>> What's that?

1:41:07>> I said you ask I have to give

1:41:09>> Oh yes. All right. Did some do the

1:41:11people from Callahan want to come here?

1:41:19Yeah. No, you can be there, too. Yeah,

1:41:21by all means, please. I'm sorry.

1:41:37>> And I should have a PowerPoint, I hope.

1:41:41>> And if not, I will go with it.

1:41:44>> There we are.

1:41:45>> Great.

1:41:47Well, it's coming up. Thank you for

1:41:49having me. Um, I'm Sue Burgerer. I'm

1:41:52here online with my colleague Sierra

1:41:55Somerville is um joining and possibly

1:41:58will help if there are some questions at

1:42:00the end. Um, we are part of the

1:42:03Gerontology Institute and have partnered

1:42:05with the city of Framingham and the

1:42:07Callahan Center to um do a needs

1:42:11assessment to explore the needs and

1:42:13strengths of older adults. Next slide.

1:42:20Well, next. Great. Thanks. Um, I just

1:42:23want to acknowledge many people who were

1:42:25involved in this, but specifically all

1:42:27the stakeholders and residents who took

1:42:29the time to attend focus groups in

1:42:33participate in interviews and complete

1:42:35the survey because without them, we

1:42:37wouldn't have had any data.

1:42:40Well, the slides are going the other

1:42:42way, so [laughter]

1:42:43I'm going to have um I'm going to keep

1:42:45talking and hopefully we can move

1:42:48forward. Let's see. Yeah, next slide,

1:42:50please. Thanks.

1:42:53Um

1:42:54Framingham has a large older population

1:42:57and it's growing. It's expected to grow

1:42:59and become more diverse and those needs

1:43:02are diverse. And the purpose was really

1:43:04to identify the strengths and challenges

1:43:06to aging in Framingham with the hope of

1:43:09the report to explore to really inform

1:43:13both the Callahan Center but also all of

1:43:16the organizations and entities within

1:43:18Framingham that work with older adults.

1:43:21So I'm going to present you can go to

1:43:23the next slide. I'm going to talk pretty

1:43:25quickly and um go through the slides

1:43:28very briefly, but the full report is now

1:43:30up on the um website and I know you have

1:43:32the executive summary and some other

1:43:34materials um and all of the um

1:43:39uh graphs that I'm showing tonight are

1:43:41in the report. So what we did, we

1:43:43completed a demographic profile using um

1:43:46the America primarily the American

1:43:48community survey from the census data.

1:43:51We led f interviews and held focus

1:43:54groups and sent out a survey to a random

1:43:57sampling of um 5,000 residents 55 and

1:44:02older. I will say though that the survey

1:44:05was available to all residents 55 and

1:44:07older online and with hard copies

1:44:10throughout areas throughout um

1:44:12Framingham. Next slide.

1:44:15Next slide.

1:44:17I'll go with mines. Okay. Who' we hear

1:44:19from? Great. Thanks. Um, we heard from a

1:44:23really nice range of ages from all ages

1:44:26from 55 to over 90. We did only hear

1:44:30from about um, 86, let's see, the

1:44:34majority of people identified as white

1:44:36and speak English at home.

1:44:39Next slide.

1:44:41We [clears throat]

1:44:43we also heard from people who have lived

1:44:45in Framingham for a variet from for a

1:44:49variety of number of years from anywhere

1:44:51from less than 15 years to 45 and older

1:44:55which is great because we want to hear

1:44:56from people who have different

1:44:58perspectives and all of the people we

1:45:01heard from 80% in any category really

1:45:04want to they feel like it's important or

1:45:08very important for them to stay and age

1:45:10in Framingham. So, Framingham have has

1:45:12its work cut out to make it a friendly

1:45:15place for them to age. Next slide.

1:45:18Actually, in the next slide. So, what

1:45:20did we find? Um,

1:45:24Framingham is old and getting older. Um,

1:45:27in 2020, about 22% of the residents were

1:45:31aged 60 and older and that's projected

1:45:34to go to 29% by 2040. That's a pretty

1:45:38large increase. Next slide.

1:45:42We asked people what they love about

1:45:44Framingham. And I'm not going to take

1:45:46the time to read all the quotes, but the

1:45:48key things that they love, there were a

1:45:51lot of things, but the top three things

1:45:52were the local culture and sense of

1:45:54community, the proximity to amenities,

1:45:57including the location, access to

1:46:00Boston, and the great programs and

1:46:02services. And I will say after I heard

1:46:04the talk earlier, I know the um

1:46:06Department of Public Health came up a

1:46:08lot as did the Callahan Center and the

1:46:10many services that are available here.

1:46:13Next slide, please. Obviously, people

1:46:16had some concerns. We asked what their

1:46:18concerns were and the top three

1:46:20concerns, property taxes and overall

1:46:23cost of living. I will say that

1:46:25Framingham's not alone in that. We've

1:46:26done many surveys and that's often a top

1:46:29concern. but also in Framingham,

1:46:32difficulty maintaining homes and limited

1:46:34housing options and challenges to

1:46:37getting around once they can no longer

1:46:39drive. Next slide, please.

1:46:43And then we looked at housing expenses

1:46:45and financial insecurity. Next slide.

1:46:49So about a third or about 31% of

1:46:54residents 65 and older are living on

1:46:56incomes of 50,000 or less.

1:47:00Next slide. Then in the survey, we asked

1:47:03people are they struggling in the past

1:47:0512 months. Have they struggled with

1:47:07their finances? Have they struggled to

1:47:09pay any of their bills?

1:47:1238% of respondents noted at least one

1:47:15thing that they struggled to pay. Many

1:47:18multiple things. The top areas were

1:47:21housing related costs like utilities,

1:47:23taxes, property maintenance along with

1:47:26health related costs. So, dental care,

1:47:29health insurance, minor home repairs.

1:47:33Next slide, please. We also know or on

1:47:36the survey that many older residents are

1:47:39still working, including se uh 19% of

1:47:43those who are se in their 70s and even

1:47:4610% of residents in their 80s. Now, some

1:47:48of these people might be continuing to

1:47:50work, but likely might be choosing to

1:47:53continue to work, but likely many of the

1:47:56people are working for financial

1:47:58reasons.

1:47:59Next slide. And then you can even skip

1:48:02the next slide. We'll go to the

1:48:03following one. We ask people about their

1:48:06houses and if they need to make home

1:48:08repairs and home modifications. And what

1:48:12was really notable is this the uh box on

1:48:15the right is that 43% of the people felt

1:48:19like their home needed home repairs yet

1:48:2237%

1:48:24were felt stated that they were unable

1:48:26to afford those repairs. And they also

1:48:30similarly but not as dramatically 47%

1:48:33felt like they needed modifications and

1:48:3621% felt like they were unable to make

1:48:38those modifications.

1:48:40Next slide, please. Um, so we have some

1:48:44recommendations. We have many

1:48:45recommendations in the full report. I'm

1:48:47just going to highlight, this is a busy

1:48:49slide. I'm just going to bullet a couple

1:48:51of things, but some ways to address some

1:48:54of the economic and security and the and

1:48:56housing. Consider partnering with

1:48:59businesses to offer senior discounts.

1:49:02Develop help a neighbor fund. explore

1:49:04and to um consider revising or expanding

1:49:08your tax relief program. Look at the

1:49:10income thresholds, the number of slots

1:49:13available, a variety of ways to address

1:49:15that. And then explore ways to support

1:49:18home maintenance. Different communities

1:49:21have done different things such as

1:49:22vetted service providers, partnerships

1:49:25with service providers, a variety of

1:49:27ways to support residents.

1:49:30If you can go to the next slide, it's

1:49:32and the next category is just community

1:49:34support and health services. Next slide.

1:49:38So the majority of people in the

1:49:41majority of Framingham residents do have

1:49:44enough sufficient help to meet their

1:49:46needs, but we looked at it based on a

1:49:48variety of categories and found that 21%

1:49:51of those who have a condition or a

1:49:53limiting impairment are struggling to

1:49:56don't have enough help to meet their

1:49:58needs. as well as some of the people who

1:50:00are living alone. Next slide. We asked

1:50:04several questions about caregiving and

1:50:06I'm again I'm just highlighting a few

1:50:09key things that we found. Caregiving is

1:50:12common in Framingham. Not surprisingly,

1:50:15most of the people are in their 50s,

1:50:17that sandwich generation, but even 258%

1:50:20of people in their 80s have provided

1:50:23care within the past five years. Next

1:50:26slide. and they've found it um very

1:50:29challenging. 66% found caregiving to be

1:50:31somewhat or very challenging and they

1:50:34the caregiver has had problems from

1:50:38their financial circumstances

1:50:41getting worse, their social life

1:50:43deteriorated, their mental health and

1:50:45their physical health has deteriorated.

1:50:47So caregiving is a concern. Next slide.

1:50:51So I guess the biggest takeaway or the

1:50:54recommendation is to make sure that the

1:50:56Callahan Center is seen as a place where

1:50:59services where people know to come if

1:51:02they [clears throat] need support or

1:51:03services that you can even if you don't

1:51:06have the services you can help someone

1:51:08get to those services. Things like food

1:51:10assistance, housing resources, caregiver

1:51:12supports, inhome supports kind of be

1:51:15seen as that portal for people to come

1:51:17to.

1:51:19Next slide. We asked a lot of questions

1:51:22about the Callahan Center. Next slide,

1:51:24please. And not surprisingly, the

1:51:27particip participation rate increases

1:51:30with age. No one was surprised to see

1:51:33that. Next slide. But among the people

1:51:36who use it, 45% only come a few times a

1:51:40year. So we asked next slide, what would

1:51:44increase the likelihood of you coming?

1:51:47And we divided it by those who attend

1:51:49and those who never attend. And most

1:51:52notably of those who never attend, 53%

1:51:54they'd be more likely to come if they

1:51:56knew what it was, what was happening,

1:51:59what the programs and services were. Um

1:52:01there were some comments about wish

1:52:04there were more programs, weekends,

1:52:06evenings, and there were a lot of

1:52:08comments about parking. And this is a

1:52:10perfect example of something that the

1:52:12Callahan Center in and of itself can't

1:52:14address and its local entities

1:52:17throughout um Framingham need to think

1:52:19about solutions for that. Um top the

1:52:23next slide please. We looked at the top

1:52:25programs that people would like to see

1:52:28in expanding and this didn't was similar

1:52:30for those who attend and don't attend

1:52:32indoor exercise, lectures, cultural

1:52:35events, performances and people had some

1:52:38great suggestions. My favorite was it

1:52:41would be great to have small groupoup

1:52:42conversations like meet a fellow

1:52:44Callahan member switching off every 10

1:52:46minutes. It was kind of like a speed

1:52:48dating um idea but speed friending or

1:52:52whatever. Next slide. And then we asked

1:52:55what top services people would like to

1:52:57see in expanding um and information and

1:53:00referral about resources was the top

1:53:02one. Professional services, shine

1:53:05counseling, a variety of programs. They

1:53:08also had some suggestions. One being um

1:53:10a monthly opportunities to have walkers

1:53:12and scooters and wheelchairs fixed.

1:53:15Another great suggestion. Next slide. So

1:53:19the recommendations here are to broaden

1:53:22programs or expand them but also look at

1:53:25program development and be innovative um

1:53:27and create we I didn't really talk about

1:53:29it here but there were some comments

1:53:31about a welcoming environment looking at

1:53:33the physical decor the signage the

1:53:36furnishings things like that next slide

1:53:40please so the last category is

1:53:43communication and information and I will

1:53:45say although I'm talking about it last

1:53:47it maybe should have been first because

1:53:49it crosses everything. You can have

1:53:52great programs, you can have great

1:53:54services, if people don't know about it,

1:53:56it's not so great. Next slide. So, this

1:54:00this slide I think was pretty um

1:54:03striking to me. The percent of people

1:54:05who don't know whom to contact in

1:54:07Framingham for help accessing social

1:54:09services. And though we looked at it

1:54:11across a variety of different

1:54:14categories, you know, those who live

1:54:15alone versus don't, different age

1:54:17categories, across the board about 65%

1:54:21said they don't know who to contact if

1:54:23they needed help accessing services. And

1:54:26that's pretty striking. We've done a lot

1:54:27of um communities throughout

1:54:29Massachusetts and that was a pretty high

1:54:31rate. So again, getting the word out.

1:54:34It's not that you don't have great

1:54:35programs, but figuring out how to make

1:54:37sure people know about them. So then we

1:54:39asked the next slide please the top

1:54:41sources of how people get um their

1:54:44information. These are just the top

1:54:45four. We had a long list of of many. The

1:54:49Callahan Courier is great and people use

1:54:52it if they attend the center. But if

1:54:54you're looking to reach people who don't

1:54:56currently attend the center, continue

1:54:58using the website um email or possibly

1:55:02putting the Callahan Courier at other

1:55:05places, not just at the senior center.

1:55:07maybe having it at the library or other

1:55:09places where people can access it.

1:55:12Next slide, please. We ask questions

1:55:14about people's comfort with engaging in

1:55:17online activities and um there's a

1:55:20segment of Framingham residents who

1:55:23don't feel confident or feel like they

1:55:24need more practice in a variety of

1:55:26activities, but specifically 30% said

1:55:29that they don't feel comfortable or need

1:55:30more practice in staying safe online.

1:55:34Next slide.

1:55:36So Framingham, I led the focus groups

1:55:39and I did a lot of interviews and we

1:55:42read all of the survey results and there

1:55:44was a lot of comments of the strength of

1:55:46Framingham is its diversity. But that's

1:55:49also became a challenge and it's a

1:55:51challenge to meet those diverse needs.

1:55:53So we asked a question about have you

1:55:55ever felt excluded in Framingham and

1:55:58about I think it's about 20% noted at

1:56:01least one reason why they felt excluded.

1:56:04These are the top four and I should have

1:56:05added here the fifth one at 15% was

1:56:08language and it's worth noting that um

1:56:12although only 15% we um 88% I think it

1:56:17was of the people who completed the

1:56:19survey speak English at home and

1:56:21although we had the survey available in

1:56:23Spanish and Portuguese we only got a

1:56:25handful of those completed. So

1:56:28can go to the next slide.

1:56:32So,

1:56:34some recommendations to strengthen

1:56:36equitable access to information and

1:56:39service navigation. And there's a lot of

1:56:42words here again, but I guess I want to

1:56:44highlight having materials translated,

1:56:47having programs in other languages,

1:56:50having multilingual staff to meet people

1:56:53and greet people at the center in their

1:56:55own language when possible. Easy for me

1:56:57to say. I know it's hard to to do this.

1:57:00Um and then consider investing in

1:57:02technology to increase digital literacy.

1:57:06Last slide please.

1:57:09Um so this is like a summary slide I

1:57:12guess but the older population in

1:57:14Framingham's continuing to grow and

1:57:16becoming more diverse. And so the bottom

1:57:20line kind of is to develop a strategic

1:57:22plan that positions the Callahan Center

1:57:25as an inclusive forward-looking

1:57:27resource. So for all residents across

1:57:30all ages and stages of aging and

1:57:32consider renewing your age well

1:57:34Framingham initiate initiative to create

1:57:37a citywide age and dementia friendly

1:57:40plan.

1:57:41So I went through that like really

1:57:44quickly. Um but there's lots you can go

1:57:47to the last slide. I have there's lots

1:57:49of extra slides. Um there's an executive

1:57:51summary and a full report. Um and I'm

1:57:55open to any questions you may have now.

1:57:57Okay. Any questions, comments?

1:58:02M. Feny.

1:58:05>> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, thank you so

1:58:07much for sharing all of this. While

1:58:09quickly I I read through the report and

1:58:11the executive summary. Um, a lot of

1:58:14really good stuff in there. So, um, I

1:58:17just have a few questions. What were

1:58:20three findings in the report that most

1:58:22surprised you and the team? And

1:58:26are there any findings that you believe

1:58:28require an immediate city response

1:58:30instead of putting that in a 3 to 5year

1:58:33plan?

1:58:34>> Great questions. So one of the key one

1:58:38of the findings there are a few findings

1:58:39that surprised me. Um surprised the team

1:58:42I will say. One is the number of people

1:58:45who don't know who to contact. We ask

1:58:48some of these questions are unique to

1:58:50Framingham. some of the questions we've

1:58:51asked and we've done over 80 communities

1:58:53throughout Massachusetts and that number

1:58:56often there's 40% 50% but 65%

1:59:01was a really seemed striking to me that

1:59:04they don't know it's not that you don't

1:59:06have the resources but that they don't

1:59:08know who to contact. So that was one.

1:59:11The other key takeaway I think that came

1:59:14out strong that wasn't necessarily

1:59:16surprising but was a little different

1:59:18than some other communities was the

1:59:20diversity as a strength but also as a

1:59:23challenge. And so we led two two of the

1:59:26f one focus groups was of um residents

1:59:29who speak only Portuguese and one focus

1:59:32group was residents who speak Spanish.

1:59:34And those participants talked about um

1:59:40wishing there was more both language

1:59:42translation, more culturally relevant

1:59:45engagement, felt like it was more

1:59:47welcoming when they came in because and

1:59:49they gave different stories of that. So

1:59:51I think that's a challenge for

1:59:53Framingham. It's a strength though. Many

1:59:56people really talked about that's why

1:59:57they're in Framingham for the diversity,

2:00:00for the different views and ideas. Um

2:00:02but that came out very loud and clear

2:00:05throughout. And a third one I guess the

2:00:08other well two other quick unusual

2:00:11findings from that are different from

2:00:14some of the other towns. One is that was

2:00:16a very large percentage of people. We

2:00:19often have people who say yes my home

2:00:22needs home modifications. Yes, my home

2:00:24needs home repairs. But when 47% need

2:00:28home repairs and 37% of those people

2:00:30can't afford to pay it to do those

2:00:33repairs, you worry about safe living

2:00:36situations from them. So that was pretty

2:00:38large.

2:00:39>> And then the other one that was just

2:00:40kind of surprising was one of the

2:00:43highest one of the second top reason

2:00:46financial challenge people had was

2:00:48dental care paying the dental insurance

2:00:50or getting dental care and I don't think

2:00:52we've seen that anywhere as coming up.

2:00:54So that was interesting.

2:00:56>> Interesting.

2:00:57>> You know, it came along a lot. There

2:00:58were on those top reasons was dental

2:01:01care, health insurance and

2:01:02prescriptions, vision care, but dental

2:01:04care was right up there specifically.

2:01:07>> So any out of that, what do you like the

2:01:10second part of the question is about

2:01:12immediate city response instead of

2:01:13waiting three to five years. So I don't

2:01:16know immediate but I would say that

2:01:18there are a lot of lowhanging fruit

2:01:21where you can get a lot of big bang for

2:01:23your bucks kind of you know there's a

2:01:24lot of things parking that's going to be

2:01:26a larger issue you know are you going to

2:01:28have to whatever that's an expensive

2:01:31issue but there are a lot of lowhanging

2:01:33things in terms of programs in terms of

2:01:35I know that the center has changed their

2:01:38hours already a little bit but exploring

2:01:41and trying different programs and

2:01:42opportunities is one of the things I

2:01:46might suggest that could be done easily.

2:01:49Is there anything and and maybe some tax

2:01:52relief in terms of looking at that tax

2:01:55relief your tax workoff program and are

2:01:57there ways to expand it to more

2:01:59residents to increase whatever.

2:02:03I guess that might be the other one.

2:02:05>> Interesting. Um just just hold on just

2:02:08two more things. Um

2:02:11the did the magnitude of the caregiving

2:02:13issue surprise you? And should we start

2:02:15thinking about our aging services

2:02:17strategy is not just serving older

2:02:19adults themselves but also looking at

2:02:21family members and caregivers to keep

2:02:24them in their homes.

2:02:25>> Right. Um

2:02:30I don't think that I'm trying to think

2:02:32in terms of surprise me. The numbers

2:02:35often surprise me, but in terms of

2:02:37looking at it compared to other towns, I

2:02:39don't know that that was that

2:02:41dramatically different, but there are a

2:02:43lot of caregivers. I I the there are a

2:02:46lot of caregivers definitely in

2:02:48Framingham and they're struggling.

2:02:51>> Yeah.

2:02:52>> Um so as much support as can be provided

2:02:55for them, I think would be great. And I

2:02:57do think looking at um the older adult

2:03:02as their team, not just them, but all

2:03:04the people who support them.

2:03:06>> Yeah, that makes sense. Uh and so here's

2:03:08my last question, and I I think this

2:03:10could be Don and Noella if you want to

2:03:12just chime in on this one. Um uh so the

2:03:15study was conducted before we had our

2:03:16big reorg.

2:03:19Um, and so based on everything that

2:03:21you've learned and read through this

2:03:23assessment, uh, what the what

2:03:25organizational structure and staffing

2:03:27capacity does Firmingham actually need

2:03:30to implement these recommendations and

2:03:32are there any risks that we should be

2:03:34watching for under this new structure

2:03:38>> and positive things as well. I'm just

2:03:39trying to

2:03:40>> So I I heard your comment to the mayor

2:03:43and the question about the COA board. I

2:03:45think having a strong COA um Council on

2:03:49Aging along with a strong friends of the

2:03:53Callahan Center along with the staff at

2:03:55the Callahan Center is all important to

2:03:58work together to

2:04:01try to set up a strategic plan and and

2:04:03meet these needs.

2:04:06I

2:04:08I'm not sure I can answer that in terms

2:04:10of what would be the best organizational

2:04:13system and I'm not sure if Sierra is on

2:04:15and if she has any comments to add.

2:04:19Sierra, hi Sierra.

2:04:21>> Hello. I am here. Thank you and thanks

2:04:24for presenting and passing the baton

2:04:26Sue. Um I I think the only thing I would

2:04:30add is to say

2:04:33uh this feels like a really good

2:04:36opportunity to work on a strategic plan

2:04:40not you know for the Council on Aging

2:04:42board, the Callahan Center department

2:04:45in collaboration with this new community

2:04:48services division. So yes, you've had a

2:04:50lot of change um and potentially some

2:04:52more change with the COA board. Um, but

2:04:56I I think this report could serve as a

2:04:59good kind of baseline starting point for

2:05:03everyone to get on the same page about

2:05:05what older adults need and how can the

2:05:08board, the department and the community

2:05:10services division really work toward

2:05:13meeting those needs over the next few

2:05:14years.

2:05:16And I think last lastly related to

2:05:19capacity, I know um one of our

2:05:22recommendations around the language

2:05:25access, you know, thinking about and

2:05:27working toward getting staff people who

2:05:30are multilingual. Um I think that is

2:05:32already a goal of the Callahan Center,

2:05:34but just reinforcing that having people

2:05:37in the building who can speak other

2:05:39languages is really important.

2:05:43>> Wonderful. Again, I I could ask so many

2:05:45more questions. The report was just

2:05:46wonderful. Um, and I love a good

2:05:48strategic plan. So, I'm very hopeful

2:05:50that we'll hear more about that. I don't

2:05:52want to ask any more questions because

2:05:53I'm sure my colleagues have a few

2:05:55things, but thank you so much. Thank all

2:05:57three of you for this work. Thank you.

2:05:59>> Thank you.

2:06:00>> Okay, Miss Lu.

2:06:02>> So, I want to thank you for that um

2:06:04report. I think that it really was an

2:06:07indepth and I think it was needed and I

2:06:09think that it you know it was you know I

2:06:12think the council on um you know the

2:06:14council on aging the um the Callahan

2:06:17board the friends of Callahan and the

2:06:19city I think that we all picked up some

2:06:20things there um because this doesn't

2:06:22fall on just you know the Callahan

2:06:25Center to address all of these things

2:06:27because um they're you know these are

2:06:30things that are facing our older

2:06:34some of us were older up here that like

2:06:36we all belong there and uh we I just

2:06:39find it funny because I'm like you know

2:06:40we all got our little we turned 55 we

2:06:43went down then we signed up and um I

2:06:46still don't think of myself as

2:06:47[clears throat] like one of when we're

2:06:48talking about the el this aging

2:06:50population I'm in it but I have a hard

2:06:52time like thinking it's me I'm always

2:06:54thinking it's somebody else and um but

2:06:57it and I know this has a varying of ages

2:07:00so u in different you know um economic

2:07:04uh um situations of folks and I can see

2:07:07how we you know Frammingham is diverse.

2:07:09We have a wide range of folks and I

2:07:12think that um this was pretty

2:07:14comprehensive and I do think that there

2:07:16are some things that we as a city maybe

2:07:18might you know I know with the parking

2:07:19thing was something that maybe we might

2:07:21be working on. Um I think um with some

2:07:25of the other you know not knowing how to

2:07:28maybe get in contact with you know with

2:07:30folks when folks need um some help. I

2:07:33mean these are things that um you know

2:07:36are are you know a wake up to see that

2:07:38some to us you know we just go online or

2:07:41whatever and you know to me it's easy to

2:07:43find someone but [snorts] not to

2:07:45everyone and um I think it's a little

2:07:48eye opening and so I guess my other my

2:07:50comments I know that um a lot of the

2:07:53questions were already asked and were

2:07:54good um is to Noelia and Don I know that

2:07:58you guys this has been a short you've

2:07:59been in there a handful of months and I

2:08:01know that this is um a survey that was

2:08:04done, you know, earlier in the year. Um

2:08:07and I know that it's been out now couple

2:08:09months and so I guess my questions are

2:08:11to you because um what have you were any

2:08:15were any of these things overly

2:08:18surprising to you guys? And also, um, I

2:08:23do have to say that I we went to your

2:08:25open house that the the Callahan Center

2:08:28did an open house that was maybe about a

2:08:30month ago and the turnout was amazing.

2:08:33Um, they were it was packed. They did

2:08:36multiple tours and it was like a kind of

2:08:39a conveyor belt of of tours being

2:08:41brought throughout the building. And

2:08:43it's funny cuz we saw people in there

2:08:44like not much older than me and they

2:08:47were all newly retired and you know some

2:08:49local business people and I'm like oh

2:08:51you're old too. It was kind of cool to

2:08:53see them and they were like we've never

2:08:55been in this place and you saw a lot of

2:08:57younger people and they were getting

2:08:59very excited. And then there was this

2:09:01one woman I was speaking to and she was

2:09:04the one that was trying to get on one of

2:09:05the tours and she had come in right in

2:09:07the middle and she's just like I just

2:09:08want to see the place cuz my mom's

2:09:10moving in from Connecticut. I just need

2:09:12to know if this is the place. And you

2:09:14know, by the end of the time she was

2:09:16there, I mean, she was absolutely just

2:09:18blown away. Um, not knowing what she was

2:09:20expecting, but she was really and she

2:09:23was a hard cell because she was not, you

2:09:25know, she just was not sure if this was

2:09:27going to be a good fit for her mother.

2:09:29And by the time that we got done, you

2:09:31know, listening to all of the, you know,

2:09:34Lisa, the social worker, who was just

2:09:35amazing with all of her, you know, um,

2:09:39the her just the programs that they had.

2:09:41And by the time Terry Sheay was done, I

2:09:43mean, I needed a nap. It was exhausting

2:09:46the the amount of programs. It's just

2:09:49really a um I I really would tell people

2:09:52just go down there and walk around there

2:09:54and check it out because you guys have

2:09:57really stepped it up. But I mean it's

2:09:59been growing for quite some time but it

2:10:01is um you know you guys are doing a good

2:10:04job with it. And so that was my

2:10:06comments. But my question honestly is is

2:10:08where from when you found out these

2:10:11results what have you guys um I know

2:10:13you've already done things. I because I

2:10:15know you um so I was just wondering if

2:10:18you could share anything with us. Okay.

2:10:22>> Sure. I'm going to start sorry for I

2:10:24just want to start by saying for me I

2:10:26mean I'm you've all seen the Freze

2:10:28commercial where you become nose blind

2:10:30to the things around you. I'm not nose

2:10:32blind to the Callahan. Everything is a

2:10:35surprise for me reading this report. I

2:10:38think I can't imagine a better time to

2:10:40have come into this reorg because you

2:10:43did this incredible like coursework

2:10:46overview of what's happening in the city

2:10:48and our senior population. It's

2:10:50incredible. And then Noelia and Terry

2:10:52and the staff at Calahan have been

2:10:54wonderful bringing me into the building

2:10:56and showing me all the things. And

2:10:57you're absolutely you're absolutely

2:10:59right. It's like a one of the warmest

2:11:02places I've ever been into in and gone

2:11:04into. With all that being said,

2:11:07everything surprises me about this. I

2:11:09had no idea the Callahan was so

2:11:10incredible. I just said that today at

2:11:12the um Friends of Callahan board

2:11:15meeting. Just the incredible breadth of

2:11:18services. So, what I'm not surprised

2:11:19about is that not everybody knows. It's

2:11:21similar to um services in the library

2:11:25where people have no idea that you can

2:11:27go in there and do more than borrow a

2:11:29book, you know, or get an audio book.

2:11:31There's so much that the the the social

2:11:33infrastructure of a community has to

2:11:35offer. And it's a great opportunity,

2:11:37you're right, for us to do a better job

2:11:38at advertising and making sure that our

2:11:40community members know about all the

2:11:42wonderful things we have to offer. And

2:11:45those are going to get more wonderful

2:11:46because you're right, we've sat with

2:11:48this for a couple of months and Noelia

2:11:50has already made an incredible list of

2:11:53of of things that that range from that

2:11:56lowhanging fruit to major projects that

2:11:58are going to take several years and and

2:12:00you'll all hear about that soon. Um so

2:12:04you the answer is everything's a

2:12:06surprise and that's a good thing.

2:12:07[laughter]

2:12:08Now Ellia, do you have anything to add?

2:12:11Um for us over there at the Kalahan

2:12:14Center, the results were more confirming

2:12:17than surprising because we were seeing

2:12:19these trends already. Um the um

2:12:23population that for example the Spanish

2:12:26and Portuguese population that normally

2:12:29doesn't um walk through our doors and

2:12:32the um still working senior population

2:12:35that normally doesn't work uh through

2:12:37our doors as well. Um, so in order to be

2:12:41able to correct that, we first started a

2:12:45new pilot program um, to extend our

2:12:49hours. Normally our hours would change

2:12:50during the winter because a lot of

2:12:52people say, and I keep saying this and

2:12:55everybody keeps laughing, seniors do not

2:12:57come out at night. So, we're trying to

2:13:00see if they do. So, we're going to stay

2:13:03open [laughter]

2:13:04throughout the winter um one day a week

2:13:08to see if they do come out at night.

2:13:09We're going to be offering different

2:13:10programs. We have a new yoga class that

2:13:14it's going to happen today. Today was

2:13:16the first day and we offered it free for

2:13:19um Firmingham employees and teachers and

2:13:22and to see if we can attract that crowd

2:13:25after they get out of work. they go to

2:13:27the kalan center, relax and then go home

2:13:29and um start their um end of the day

2:13:32activities. Um so we started with that.

2:13:35We also strengthened our outreach

2:13:37programs. We have a new social worker.

2:13:40Uh we were working under one um social

2:13:43worker that um also took some time off

2:13:46at the end of the year. So she uh had a

2:13:49big um backlog. Um so now that we have

2:13:52two um we can um offer more um

2:13:56caregiving support, more social services

2:13:58support and um we are also uh hire a

2:14:04couple of other um fill a couple of

2:14:08other vacancies that we had opened and

2:14:11um that's going to help us with uh

2:14:13closing that gap that we have. We've

2:14:16been working tirelessly with

2:14:17[clears throat] the mayor's office, with

2:14:19Susan Petroni, with um the grants

2:14:23manager, uh Megan Todd, um in order to

2:14:26create this three to five year um

2:14:30strategic plan um to see how we are able

2:14:35to

2:14:36put this results um to work best. And um

2:14:41in my opinion, this is not going to be a

2:14:43just a Callahan Center thing. This is

2:14:46going to be a city of Firmingham um

2:14:48project that's going to extend beyond

2:14:50the Callahan Center because a lot of the

2:14:52findings are not just the people that

2:14:54come to the center, but the seniors that

2:14:57live in the city of Firmingham.

2:14:59>> Thank you. And incidentally, seniors

2:15:01come out at night is our theme for

2:15:03Spooktacular. Well, one suggestion if I

2:15:05can follow up. Just maybe just think of

2:15:08maybe like a yoga class for the city

2:15:10council before our Tuesdays.

2:15:12>> Oh god.

2:15:13>> What do you guys think?

2:15:14>> Guys, it would be fun. Not all of us are

2:15:16senior.

2:15:17>> Mr. Canon, thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2:15:19Thank you for the the work. Um, this is

2:15:21very heartening. I I'm very pleased to

2:15:23see how nimble, you know, municipalities

2:15:26have a hard time being nimble and seeing

2:15:29so much of the work that's been done

2:15:30since the reorganization, but also I

2:15:32think seeing the results of this study

2:15:34shows how tuned in the team at the

2:15:37Callahan Center has been with some of

2:15:39the often unarticulated needs of our

2:15:42community of of older adults. Um, I know

2:15:44you're working on some partnership

2:15:46opportunities with um apprentice

2:15:48programs with Keith Tech. so some of

2:15:50those home improvement opportunities can

2:15:52be more easily resolved. I think that's

2:15:54really creative. I love the speed

2:15:56friending idea. It's interesting to read

2:15:59about how it can be seen as clicky or or

2:16:02uninviting. You know, it's it's like

2:16:03the, you know, being a, you know, a

2:16:05middle middle school student walking

2:16:07into the cafeteria there for the first

2:16:09time. Life is life. It's an intimidating

2:16:11place. Once you're there, it's so warm

2:16:13and welcoming, but that first visit

2:16:15maybe turns, you know, it's just a a

2:16:16scary thing. And you know that's a a

2:16:18lifelong thing which is interesting. Um

2:16:21I'm I'm really encouraged um by uh you

2:16:25know when when we talk about getting the

2:16:27information out. I I love your example

2:16:28Don about you know people think of

2:16:30libraries that's why you got you go to

2:16:32check a book. There's so much more

2:16:34there. Same thing with the Callahan

2:16:36Center. I think often bringing a parent

2:16:38there who may be older or coming to the

2:16:40community is is just as valuable for

2:16:43that adult semi or full-time caregiver

2:16:46because you're going to realize how many

2:16:48resources there are for that individual.

2:16:50The caregiving opportunities for folks

2:16:53that are in the same boat in our

2:16:54community are extensive and growing. Um

2:16:57in terms of our capital needs, that's

2:17:00something we're going to have to work on

2:17:01as a community. I know the

2:17:02administration is is all over that

2:17:03developing that plan in concert with all

2:17:06the folks that you've mentioned. I feel

2:17:07really good about the work that's being

2:17:08done by um the team at the senior level

2:17:11um by Megan Todd finding those grant

2:17:13opportunities. Susan Patroni, the

2:17:15library does such a great job of getting

2:17:17that information out there and and so

2:17:19the the challenges that I see

2:17:21articulated in the report, I think we're

2:17:23more than than capable of um of

2:17:26addressing those. And on the financial

2:17:28stuff, that's, you know, we have to

2:17:30remember, we squawk about sometimes, I

2:17:32squawk about all the time, um, making

2:17:35sure that Framingham remains affordable.

2:17:37This is why it's really scary for our

2:17:39seniors who, you know, I mean, we we'll

2:17:42get into that around budget season, but,

2:17:43let's be cognizant of of those needs and

2:17:46and the wise behind some of those

2:17:48challenges. So, um, I feel really good

2:17:50about this in the in in the direction

2:17:52that we're moving in. So, thank you to

2:17:53everyone. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.

2:17:55>> Thank you. Anybody else? Okay,

2:17:58Stephanie.

2:17:59>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, first,

2:18:02thank you for this to UMass and and

2:18:04folks for this study. It is spectacular.

2:18:06Lots of good data in here and I

2:18:08appreciate in particular what you two

2:18:10ladies have done with the Callahan

2:18:12Center and Noelia, I appreciate your

2:18:14comments about reaching beyond the the

2:18:17council. One of my takeaways in this um

2:18:22is while it's really good data for

2:18:24Callahan and for the programming, it's

2:18:27almost even more powerful data for

2:18:29everybody else in the city. And whether

2:18:32it is all of the social service agencies

2:18:34in our community who need to see a copy

2:18:36of this and understand what they need to

2:18:39do for their outreach in the community,

2:18:41whether it's fuel assistance or uh you

2:18:44know, food stamps or weatherization or

2:18:47something else. CDBG needs to see this

2:18:49to look at, you know, whether or not we

2:18:51can do low interest loans for paying for

2:18:54uh home repairs as we once did a lot of

2:18:56in our community or CPC as as part of

2:19:01that. And and I guess I'm digressing

2:19:03into this because I I'm trying to tap

2:19:05into the comments from uh uh Mary Kate

2:19:09and Janet about figuring out how we

2:19:12leverage this to get way beyond your

2:19:15world to to to

2:19:18get other folks to be part of this

2:19:21whether it's the Metro West Health

2:19:22Foundation,

2:19:24um the hospital,

2:19:26um Eversource dealing with programs they

2:19:29have with dollars that we complain about

2:19:31that they take from our customers, but

2:19:33they take them and we need to figure out

2:19:34how we get them to be used locally. One

2:19:38of the things that was interesting and

2:19:40and I turned to our chair or or the

2:19:42mayor about this. I I came across

2:19:45something that I had forgotten about. In

2:19:47I think it was 2002, Framingham adopted

2:19:50a special act for a discounted program

2:19:52for water and sewer for seniors, but I

2:19:55don't know that we ever actually really

2:19:57implemented that. We did imple we

2:19:58definitely implemented it because it

2:20:00required a lot of paperwork and people

2:20:02used to complain about the paperwork

2:20:04that it required. I assumed it was still

2:20:06in place but maybe it's been changed but

2:20:08>> I didn't see anything of it.

2:20:09>> But during my tenure we definitely

2:20:10implemented it because I believe as you

2:20:12stated I think you stated we needed a

2:20:14special act to do it.

2:20:15>> Yeah. Do do you know Mr. Mayor whether

2:20:17we still do that have we don't because

2:20:20that special act still applies to us and

2:20:22we still have the authorization to do

2:20:24that but I think there are things like

2:20:26that. It's um

2:20:29chapter 86 of 2002.

2:20:33Um but it's worth looking at and

2:20:36thinking about how we not just the two

2:20:39of you and all the pressure is on you,

2:20:41how we how you put on the council and

2:20:43the mayor and others, how we look at

2:20:45affordability issues because a special

2:20:49discounted program is authorized for us.

2:20:50Let's figure out how we make it how we

2:20:52make it work. affordable housing. The

2:20:55number of seniors

2:20:57who have chosen to uh pick a place in

2:21:01Framingham to downsize to stay here that

2:21:05I know is is it's a big number and I

2:21:08think we need to think about in our

2:21:09housing production. What do we do to

2:21:11think about more housing that meets that

2:21:14demand and that need as we've noticed in

2:21:17the three senior complexes more or less

2:21:19in our community there that those houses

2:21:22have been gobbled up those units almost

2:21:24instantly.

2:21:25Um

2:21:27so I would hope number one that we

2:21:29develop a strategic plan but that we

2:21:31work with everybody in the city outside

2:21:33of the council on aging to um to look at

2:21:37that and how we can do that. The the

2:21:40last uh

2:21:42point I would make is it's worth

2:21:44thinking about what some communities do

2:21:46and Ashland did this for a long time

2:21:48very effectively is taking the Kalahan

2:21:51corer or whatever it is and direct mail

2:21:55it to every resident or every el elderly

2:21:58citizen in the community. It's a great

2:22:00resource. Um unfortunately we don't have

2:22:03a lot of resources in our community that

2:22:06have that kind of outreach. I don't

2:22:09think it's particularly expensive to do

2:22:11that on a periodic basis, but it

2:22:14certainly provides

2:22:16the seniors I know read everything that

2:22:18comes through their mailbox. And if you

2:22:20want to get people's attention in terms

2:22:21of programs or services or whatever else

2:22:25they can do, it's a great way to think

2:22:26about um all this. Anything I can do to

2:22:30help, I'm happy to help. But I think

2:22:33my strong suggestion is put put

2:22:36something on the agenda of every other

2:22:38person in government to figure out how

2:22:39we deal with our aging population

2:22:42because it is aging and it is growing.

2:22:45>> Miss Brian,

2:22:46>> thank you. Uh but make sure the print is

2:22:49not too small. [laughter]

2:22:51So um but I wanted to say I do agree

2:22:54with Noelia. I wasn't surprised by by

2:22:57these results. I it just confirmed it

2:23:00was good to have the data that confirms

2:23:02what we are living and seeing constantly

2:23:05anyway, right? But I also want to say um

2:23:08I like I of course I like the the way

2:23:10the study was done. Um the practicals it

2:23:13hit a lot, you know, all like life areas

2:23:17for people, but I also want to say when

2:23:19did 55 get to be old, right? I thought

2:23:22that was sitting pretty, but soon after.

2:23:24But anyway, the practical things about

2:23:27the parking. I mean, it was true. I like

2:23:30that you had some of the quotes. When I

2:23:32have gone, I gone, I thought the entry

2:23:35was very sterile, like a doctor's

2:23:36office. It lacked warmth, but when you

2:23:38get in, but it is true a little bit.

2:23:40That's just a little practical thing,

2:23:43but you know, good because that's how

2:23:45people feel, right? So great. And then

2:23:47the parking horrendous blah blah blah,

2:23:49you know, like there's not enough room

2:23:51for all that's provided that people want

2:23:54to take advantage of, you know, that

2:23:56kind of thing. Um or, you know, nobody

2:23:58really wants to go around the back, but

2:24:00they have to, you know, once they go. Uh

2:24:02but the home repair, we do have a

2:24:05program for seniors. um you know where

2:24:09uh the city uh provides like fixing the

2:24:13steps or things like that that could be

2:24:15a danger to them. But it seems like the

2:24:19um the list and the need

2:24:22is larger like there's or the

2:24:25administration of it is smaller than the

2:24:28now um you know need. people are on the

2:24:30list a long time and then a lot don't

2:24:33know about it because a lot is like

2:24:36railing and steps that you know have

2:24:39disintegrated somewhat this kind of

2:24:41thing and you know uh you know people

2:24:43with their different injuries trying to

2:24:45make that and so the city does have a

2:24:47program but possibly that needs to be

2:24:50like looked at how maybe to expand and

2:24:53again get the word out to more people

2:24:56and the process teach the process. So, I

2:24:58I love that the practicals were in

2:25:00there. Um, I like and I agree with the

2:25:04assessment about Renew the Age Well, uh,

2:25:06Framingham initiative. It's critical.

2:25:10Like, it seems simple. It isn't behind

2:25:12the scenes, but what it does, the

2:25:14results are good. And I I think giving a

2:25:17free hand um not you know you always

2:25:19need checks and balances but the

2:25:21commitment on the council of aging and

2:25:24like the the age well thing every um is

2:25:27real you know like have at it you know

2:25:30and then you guys get they'll come to

2:25:32you and um I think we can see more good

2:25:35things because the thing about the bus

2:25:37stops right um they were working on that

2:25:39but somehow it got stalled and so well

2:25:43every but so that would be a great help

2:25:45to a lot of seniors. That's a big um

2:25:49lowhanging fruit, right? But it's a a

2:25:51lot of lowhanging fruit there. The

2:25:54offerings of the Callahan Center, not

2:25:57only some people don't know about it,

2:25:59but a lot of times you just don't

2:26:01remember all of it. You know what I

2:26:03mean? Unless you're going to it, that

2:26:06kind of thing. um and the preventative

2:26:09uh uh you know uh the stuff about

2:26:12prevention in terms of health and all of

2:26:16that. I think that you the the the

2:26:18numbers show how that is one of the

2:26:20critical things that matter and in terms

2:26:23of um quality of life, right? So that

2:26:27maybe public health can help with that.

2:26:29But um and the yoga and all of that, the

2:26:32mindfulness that is very important just

2:26:35to um age well and accept it and feeling

2:26:39great about that stage of your life as

2:26:41you go on and that so that hits the

2:26:44emotional and mental part too which is

2:26:47very important. A lot of people retire

2:26:50and then they realize oh you know um

2:26:53it's not it's not the fantasy I pictured

2:26:56right and that takes an emotional toll

2:26:58on them also. So I would say that

2:27:00broadening the offerings in exercise

2:27:02nutritional mindfulness as much as you

2:27:04can right and and then um there is a pro

2:27:08uh a program diaeliss

2:27:11um and they go and pick up I think

2:27:14seniors and stuff in the neighborhood.

2:27:15So, in terms of um connecting um with uh

2:27:20Spanish speaking and Portuguese speaking

2:27:22or whatever, you know, maybe collaborate

2:27:25or f, you know, go check that out and

2:27:27maybe, you know, maybe some of they can

2:27:29bring some of their people over to the

2:27:30Calan Center sometimes for some programs

2:27:33or whatever. I love that. Um the

2:27:36lectures, such a big percentage, right?

2:27:39they want the lectures and they and they

2:27:42um chose lectures and help and something

2:27:46else. But it it showed like they still

2:27:48want to be vital and they're interested.

2:27:51So that was great. We do have a vital

2:27:53population um and they want to stay that

2:27:56way. the um other things the things that

2:27:59like people complained about it was not

2:28:02not complained but explained right what

2:28:04they felt about in their life or that um

2:28:10prevented them from connecting as much

2:28:13with the Calian center. it was still a a

2:28:15a a good number but a small number which

2:28:18of course we're still going to work on

2:28:20it but um it just shows that a lot is

2:28:23being done and um I do want to say too

2:28:27counseling about um caregivers family

2:28:30caregivers outside of caregivers um it

2:28:33wasn't a program and hope you know you

2:28:35need to expand and you I'm glad you got

2:28:37the other social worker too um because

2:28:40we need it it's big enough but I will

2:28:42say the former director Randy Ellsworth

2:28:44birth. He was very good um um at talking

2:28:48to people like when I could direct

2:28:51someone, you know, I don't know all the

2:28:54ins and outs, especially with dementia,

2:28:56Alzheimer's and all that and just the

2:28:59struggle of caregivers or whatever,

2:29:01whether in Framingham or other places

2:29:04and help them get to services in their

2:29:06town or and how to handle it. you know,

2:29:10they might sneak away and or on the

2:29:12phone and are talking to him and how to

2:29:14get to the social workers and stuff. So,

2:29:17um I think that these the focus on yeah,

2:29:20having the other social worker and

2:29:22getting people to know that they can

2:29:24call or the what the hours are to avail

2:29:27themselves of it and kind of um how to

2:29:30handle

2:29:32like give themselves some downtime to,

2:29:34you know, like that practical. Um, I

2:29:37think all of those things are important

2:29:39and it won't be an overnight lift, but

2:29:42already stuff has started and I'm glad

2:29:44that this was started even before the

2:29:46reorg because it gives you guys a good

2:29:48direction to go in in things that you

2:29:52can work on. So, thank you all of you

2:29:55and um I'm very happy with this.

2:29:59>> Okay. Thank you. Uh, seeing nothing

2:30:01else. Oh, yes. I'm sorry, Mr. Chip. We

2:30:03can finish with you. I forgot. I

2:30:04apologize. This was a long time ago. I

2:30:06told you I'd get you. So, uh, feel free.

2:30:11>> Hi. Uh, Ron Chick, 133 Central Street.

2:30:14Thank you for all you do. I did complete

2:30:17that survey.

2:30:18>> Thank you.

2:30:19>> Um, uh, have a couple questions. Uh,

2:30:22parking um is is a big issue. Did you

2:30:26make specific recommendations for

2:30:28parking?

2:30:30>> No.

2:30:31>> Okay. I have two.

2:30:32>> Okay. We [laughter]

2:30:34>> one is the abiding property at parks and

2:30:37wreck.

2:30:38There's uh it couldn't be closer. Um I

2:30:42would I would encourage uh to

2:30:44collaborate with parks and wreck to see

2:30:46if there can be determination of

2:30:48providing some parking there. The other

2:30:50is across the street at the uh

2:30:53Framingham State University property. um

2:30:55there seems to be a significant parking

2:30:58availability there and maybe there's a

2:31:00way of structuring who parks closest and

2:31:04who parks further away to account for

2:31:07others. And part of the reason I bring

2:31:09that up is I I engaged in a concept oh

2:31:13maybe a year and a half ago. Um did you

2:31:15do any assessment of the outside space

2:31:17beyond parking?

2:31:20>> We did not. I'm trying to think if the

2:31:23survey asked questions and and I do not

2:31:27believe the survey asked questions. This

2:31:29survey sometimes we do about

2:31:32specifically about the outside

2:31:34environment. I'm going to ask Sierra, do

2:31:36you remember if the survey had any

2:31:37questions about the outside? I do not

2:31:40believe so.

2:31:41>> It did not.

2:31:42>> Okay.

2:31:43>> Okay. So, again, um I have some comments

2:31:46on that. If you're familiar

2:31:49with the parking lot, there's a major

2:31:52depression there that is storm water

2:31:54drainage from an imperous surface that

2:31:56flows into the Sudbury River, which most

2:31:59storm water flows into the river. That's

2:32:02not the the the issue. That space there

2:32:06is about 60 ft by 60 ft. It's unusable

2:32:09as it is other than the purpose that it

2:32:11serves. And in in listening to the the

2:32:15presentation about creating community,

2:32:18connecting people, um I had uh met with

2:32:22C uh COA a couple times and talked about

2:32:25a a concept besides trails is that the

2:32:30utility of that space that is unusable

2:32:34can be usable. I submitted a CPC grant

2:32:39for design funding feasibility to look

2:32:42at that 60 foot by 60 foot space to put

2:32:45a platform on it that would be an

2:32:48outdoor community area where people

2:32:50could meet informally. It would be

2:32:52visible to people and it would be um a

2:32:55wonderful opportunity. Uh CPC

2:32:58unfortunately

2:33:00uh said that it's not eligible and thank

2:33:02you for your support in moving forward

2:33:04with that as well. uh because we talked

2:33:06about that and the reason why it's not

2:33:08uh uh eligible is that creating

2:33:12recreational

2:33:14platforms like this is eligible except

2:33:17it has to be on open or recreational

2:33:20space and the u the space in Callahan is

2:33:24general use space so it doesn't apply so

2:33:28what I would urge you to do is to

2:33:31consider a vision on that space,

2:33:35[snorts] make it useful, have it be an

2:33:37outdoor space that's engaging in a nice

2:33:40meeting place for residents and it would

2:33:42draw more people. So, thank you.

2:33:46>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a point of

2:33:48information.

2:33:50When we were talking about a couple

2:33:51different things, I hit the website. We

2:33:53do offer a water and sewer discount.

2:33:54It's on the Framingham website for says

2:33:57water and sewer senior discount. City of

2:33:58Framing Mass official website. The last

2:34:01round was from May of 2026 through June

2:34:04of 2026. There's all the criteria there.

2:34:06So if everybody's listening, hopefully

2:34:07they do it again next year. But we have

2:34:08a program.

2:34:09>> Thank you.

2:34:09>> At least we did.

2:34:10>> All right. We got a tour.

2:34:13>> We have a lengthy agenda. Miss Brian,

2:34:15please. We have a lengthy agenda here.

2:34:16So we got to get moving on to it.

2:34:18>> That's why I just threw it in.

2:34:21[laughter]

2:34:21>> It always helps.

2:34:24Okay. Next on the agenda.

2:34:26>> Thank you.

2:34:26>> Request a council. Yes. Thank you very

2:34:28much. request a couple safini. I just

2:34:31want I see several people still left in

2:34:32the audience. Please know that the uh

2:34:34the discussion I don't know why some of

2:34:36you are here. I know why some of you are

2:34:38here, some not. But the discussion

2:34:39regarding Pearl Street Garage is only

2:34:41referral tonight. So it will not be

2:34:42discussed here tonight as long as you

2:34:44guys know that.

2:34:46Um

2:34:48upon request of council fee information

2:34:50regarding a town of whale and department

2:34:52of public works notification to

2:34:53abundance regarding uh removal fill

2:34:56dredge or alter area of subject

2:34:58protection under the Massachusetts

2:34:59wetland protections act. I did ask the

2:35:01conservation administrator to join us on

2:35:03this just so somebody has some

2:35:05knowledge. So if you want to join us you

2:35:07are welcome to

2:35:09maybe it might even if it's okay with

2:35:11you councelor Feny I assume she probably

2:35:13has more knowledge of it than you. Yes,

2:35:15I was just this isformational.

2:35:18>> So, if you wouldn't mind just giving us

2:35:19a brief explanation as to what this is

2:35:22about and if there's any what's been

2:35:24done about it, you I'm sure you know the

2:35:26drill. [snorts]

2:35:30>> All right.

2:35:34>> Okay. So, for those who don't know me,

2:35:35I'm Rebecca now and the city's uh

2:35:37conservation agent. So, I'm not sure

2:35:40councelor Finey's interest in this

2:35:42project, but I can give you some

2:35:43background and context. So, this um was

2:35:46a proposal from the town of Wayland DPW

2:35:48to the city's conservation commission

2:35:50the past month through September. It did

2:35:53go through full public process. It was

2:35:55advertised. They had public hearings

2:35:57held for public comment. Nobody spoke

2:36:00against the project and it is permitted

2:36:02work at this time. So, they are free to

2:36:04commence whenever they're ready to do

2:36:06so.

2:36:08Um,

2:36:10a brief background to the project, why

2:36:12it's being done. So, the town of Wayland

2:36:14is under a mandated long-term corrective

2:36:18active plan, action plan with mass DP.

2:36:22All of their drinking water wells are

2:36:24contaminated with PFAS higher than

2:36:26they're allowed to be. So, they're

2:36:28basically forced to do this work. Um, I

2:36:31met with Kleinfelder several times and

2:36:34they had 16 different alternatives in

2:36:36discussion with D and the town of

2:36:38Wayland before they came to an agreement

2:36:41with the current proposal. Um, so

2:36:44basically right now the MWR has two

2:36:46redundant water pipelines to their

2:36:49customers which are the Hulman Aqueduct

2:36:51and the Metro West Tunnel. These two

2:36:53pipelines come together at what they

2:36:55call shaft L in Framingham and they are

2:36:59proposing to put a parallel new

2:37:01transmission line along the Holtman

2:37:03aqueduct in Framingham.

2:37:06>> Thank you.

2:37:07>> Can I just say

2:37:08>> yes?

2:37:09>> Thank you for that. Now you may be

2:37:10wondering why do I even care, right? Um

2:37:14for a couple of reasons. one, we got a

2:37:16letter about this and I wanted to put

2:37:17this on the agenda so that people knew

2:37:20because as you know when a tree gets cut

2:37:23down, especially more than 10, people

2:37:26are going to have some questions. So I

2:37:29thought it would just be appropriate for

2:37:31all of us to know when the social media

2:37:33people start asking why are 47 trees

2:37:36being taken down. Is that's the correct

2:37:38number, right?

2:37:39>> Uh yes and no. So there are 47 trees

2:37:42being taken down. only one 20-in caliber

2:37:45tree is within jurisdiction. So, that's

2:37:48the one tree that um any entity in the

2:37:51city had any say about removal. The

2:37:53other 46 trees on that halfacre clearing

2:37:56are upland to the resource areas on MWR

2:37:59property and there's no jurisdiction to

2:38:02prevent the clear cutting.

2:38:03>> No, no. And I'm not saying that we

2:38:04shouldn't clear cut that. understand the

2:38:06project, but just when people are

2:38:08wondering why that is all

2:38:10>> uh it would it would it bringing this

2:38:12into a more public forum than

2:38:13conservation. As much as we'd love to

2:38:15think that everybody is like us and

2:38:16watch conservation every time um

2:38:20[clears throat] is just more of just an

2:38:21educational thing and so that we are all

2:38:23aware when this work happens and that

2:38:26this pipeline I believe the L stub is

2:38:30also for other communities to link into.

2:38:33Is that correct? if if need be.

2:38:34>> Primarily Wayland. Yes.

2:38:36>> Yes.

2:38:37>> Um so that just that we know that this

2:38:39work is happening also because the

2:38:41aqueduct people do walk up and down.

2:38:43It's it's very popular with dog walkers

2:38:45and it is ab budding a lot of property.

2:38:48I just think that people just need to

2:38:50know just before this work or when this

2:38:52work happens uh because whenever there's

2:38:54always tree clearing with aqueduct,

2:38:56people have questions. So I just wanted

2:38:58to get ahead of it instead of reacting.

2:39:00So,

2:39:01>> one thing they did um talk about doing

2:39:03is they were willing to mitigate the

2:39:05tree clearing despite the fact that we

2:39:07had no jurisdiction over it. They were

2:39:08willing to work with the city to plant

2:39:10trees in other locations to make up for

2:39:12the fact that there was no feasible

2:39:14place for them to be replanted within

2:39:16proximity to the proposed work, but um

2:39:19unfortunately nobody really came up with

2:39:21any great ideas.

2:39:23>> Well, and that's part of the other work

2:39:24that we're working on together. So,

2:39:26we'll stay tuned for everyone on that

2:39:28one. Thank you. I I know staying late

2:39:31but thank you very much for this update.

2:39:32>> Thank you very much for staying late. I

2:39:33appreciate it.

2:39:34>> No problem.

2:39:34>> Anything else about that? Great. Thank

2:39:36you. Um next is upon Anthony you want to

2:39:40join us? This is the issue we talked

2:39:42about before regarding the affordable

2:39:43rents. We talked about a policy and the

2:39:46the confusion is who has the say in this

2:39:50matter. Is it the city council? Is it

2:39:52the mayor? Etc. And Anthony had done

2:39:54some work on it. I think it's important

2:39:56to point out to anyone who may be

2:39:59confused. This is not something Anthony

2:40:00is promoting or suggesting. He's simply

2:40:03doing work at our behest to see if we

2:40:05can figure this out. And so, do we have

2:40:09anything new on this or where do we

2:40:10stand on this?

2:40:12>> Um, so the only the only thing new I

2:40:14have is I was asked the question of what

2:40:16are other municipalities doing? It was

2:40:18difficult to find this information. Um,

2:40:20two cities that are, you know, similar,

2:40:23at least city forms of government, um,

2:40:25are Somerville and Worcester that I was

2:40:27able to find. Um, they have a more

2:40:30robust, um, housing department, um,

2:40:33internal housing, housing staff. Um, so

2:40:36the cities of Somerville and Worcester,

2:40:38what they do is they flow it through the

2:40:40the housing department, similar to our

2:40:43planning and community development

2:40:44department, um, through the

2:40:47administration to the mayor or the the

2:40:50city manager. Um, similar to what I had

2:40:52had put in the um, proposal last time.

2:40:56um smaller communities have what they

2:40:59call fair housing trusts that oversee

2:41:01some of the aspects of um the

2:41:04adjustments but don't necessarily have

2:41:07full authority to approve them. Um those

2:41:10typically flow through [snorts]

2:41:12um a town administrator or something

2:41:15along those lines, but um those are

2:41:18there's less of those just given the

2:41:21fact that they're smaller communities,

2:41:22more rural towns. um they have less of

2:41:25these types of projects.

2:41:30>> So, what should we do now? Do we need to

2:41:32take action? What I know I'm putting you

2:41:35on the spot a little bit, but I mean,

2:41:36you don't have to. Um if

2:41:39>> if we don't take action, I think we need

2:41:41to figure out what we're going to do in

2:41:43the future when these things come in.

2:41:44Are we going to take them? Are we going

2:41:46to suggest the mayor take them?

2:41:49And it I I still don't understand why.

2:41:51has again nothing to do with you

2:41:53Anthony. Why? We just can't clearly find

2:41:56out whose

2:41:58domain this is in.

2:42:01So again, from last time, my

2:42:03understanding is that it's just it's

2:42:04ambiguous in the language in these

2:42:06agreements. It just refers to the

2:42:07municipality or the city um and doesn't

2:42:10specifically state who's responsible.

2:42:12But it had been past practice. I think

2:42:15it it only started a few years ago, I

2:42:17believe, but it was the council that

2:42:19that took those votes whether or not to

2:42:21make those adjustments rather than the

2:42:23mayor. I think if the mayor had

2:42:24initially signed them or or taken them

2:42:26that it probably would have just

2:42:27continued to flow through the mayor's

2:42:29office. I think it just happened to to

2:42:31flow through the council and that's the

2:42:33way it's been.

2:42:36>> Mel,

2:42:37>> sure. Thank you. Thank you also,

2:42:39Anthony, for this work. I mean, I see

2:42:41here that you're in these background

2:42:43materials, you're making this

2:42:44recommendation as to a process

2:42:47um in terms of the director of planning,

2:42:51community development reviewing first

2:42:53and then the mayor reviewing second. Um

2:42:55it not being subject to a council vote.

2:42:58Um so I I feel comfortable with the

2:43:01process that's outlined here as

2:43:03something that we might um adopt. I I

2:43:06don't know if it's for council to adopt

2:43:09it because we don't have a role in it.

2:43:12So, I don't it feels a little bit weird

2:43:15for us to vote on a on a like a policy

2:43:18or or procedure that isn't about us. Um

2:43:22but maybe that's what we need to do to

2:43:24formalize that it's not about us,

2:43:27>> right? I mean, I think that's where some

2:43:28of the confusion comes in. So,

2:43:29>> do you want a motion, Mr. Chair? I would

2:43:31move the uh uh our uh

2:43:35>> what Anthony, what's your title?

2:43:37Financial uh uh

2:43:38>> analyst. Yeah,

2:43:39>> I would move the financial analyst um uh

2:43:42findings.

2:43:43>> Second,

2:43:44>> is there any further discussion? Mr.

2:43:45Aviani, Mr. Ward,

2:43:47>> I I I just want to concur with council

2:43:49Malik. It's it we we're the legislative

2:43:51body. He's the executive branch of

2:43:53government.

2:43:54We need to right now we're doing it. You

2:43:56know, we got some conflicting

2:43:57information. We got that legal letter

2:43:58from uh the Buckley folks, Mr. McDow. I

2:44:01I don't think Kate Fallon really weighed

2:44:02in too much and um I think we need to

2:44:05formulate a process and I have no

2:44:07problem with Saki handling it and it

2:44:08going to the man just at least then

2:44:09there's some direct guidance. It says

2:44:11it's set up and we're ready to go.

2:44:16>> Yeah, thanks. Um I think this is

2:44:19[snorts] good progress. I I think we

2:44:22have been taking on this responsibility

2:44:23and I think it's

2:44:26a relatively important responsibility in

2:44:27terms of the impact it has on residents

2:44:29and as much as I trust Sari and and the

2:44:33mayor and the administration, I do think

2:44:35there are different incentives that

2:44:36drive their decision-m process that

2:44:39maybe would drive ours. And so, um,

2:44:41while I think it's I I just I think

2:44:44there there's a balancing act. We want

2:44:46development. We want we understand that

2:44:50the the world we live in, there's

2:44:52inflation, there's cost of living

2:44:53increases that

2:44:55developers

2:44:58might reasonably need um on a yearly

2:45:00basis. At the same time, we're also more

2:45:03in a position to defend our our

2:45:06residents than others might

2:45:07theoretically be. And so I guess maybe

2:45:09my only request would be maybe like a a

2:45:12sixth step on this proposed process

2:45:14which is at some point in this process

2:45:16we get a report even if it's

2:45:18justformational

2:45:19like we should know when these increases

2:45:23are being approved and what those

2:45:25increases are so that at some point if

2:45:27we want to change the process we can go

2:45:30back and change it.

2:45:32>> I would accept that as a friendly

2:45:33amendment.

2:45:33>> Okay. Great. Thank you.

2:45:35>> Okay. Any further discussion? Seeing

2:45:37none, all those in F.

2:45:39>> Wait,

2:45:42>> Mr. Brian, we're taking a vote.

2:45:44>> Oh, I thought you said any of the

2:45:46comments that I raised.

2:45:47>> And I saw it said seeing none, we're

2:45:48taking a vote,

2:45:49>> but I had had my hand raised.

2:45:51>> Go ahead. Can you do

2:45:52>> I just wanted to say that um I would I

2:45:55am against us giving up um of the vote

2:45:58on that.

2:45:59>> Thank you very much. Okay. So, all those

2:46:02in favor of Mr. Alexander.

2:46:05>> Yes. Mr. Staviani,

2:46:07>> yes.

2:46:08>> Miss Malik,

2:46:08>> yes.

2:46:09>> Mr. Stephanie,

2:46:10>> yes.

2:46:10>> Miss Bryant,

2:46:11>> no.

2:46:11>> Myself, yes. M. Leam Bruno,

2:46:14>> yes.

2:46:15>> M Long,

2:46:16>> no.

2:46:17>> Mr. Ward,

2:46:18>> yes.

2:46:19>> Miss Feny,

2:46:19>> yes.

2:46:20>> Mr. Canon,

2:46:20>> yes.

2:46:21>> All those favor. Nine in favor, two

2:46:23opposed. Okay. Next, um, is request to

2:46:27find a subcommittee, a recommendation to

2:46:29vote regarding the reauthorization of

2:46:30the opioid stabilization fund. Mr. Vani.

2:46:33Yeah, we have a memo um to Charlie from

2:46:36our CFO from to the mayor from the CFO.

2:46:38During a fiscal year end review of the

2:46:40stabilization of special funds, the

2:46:42finance department determined that the

2:46:43opioid stabilization fund must be

2:46:44reauthorized to continue receipt of

2:46:46opioid settlement payments to expend

2:46:47those funds in accordance with the

2:46:48settlements. The No, I got to this

2:46:50thing's a page and a half.

2:46:52>> The city council on December 20th 22

2:46:54voted to accept paragraph 4 of the Mass

2:46:56General law chapter 40 section 5B to

2:46:57create the opioid stabilization fund

2:46:58effective for three fiscal years

2:47:00starting in fiscal year 2024 C attached.

2:47:02The vote in December 2022 dedicating

2:47:04settlement funds from opioid litigation

2:47:06to the opioid stabilization fund

2:47:07authorized the fund through the end of

2:47:08fiscal year 2026 in accordance with

2:47:10chapter 40 section 5B which provides in

2:47:13part a vote to dedicate or terminate

2:47:16>> a dedication

2:47:18>> an explanation but is not part of the

2:47:19motion.

2:47:20>> I'm supposed to read that then I've got

2:47:21the motion after it. No, that I got an

2:47:22explanation. So

2:47:23>> let me just read the motion.

2:47:24>> Yes.

2:47:25>> Okay. Then somebody doesn't want to know

2:47:27about the motion. Okay. Whereas pursuant

2:47:29to master don't they want to know why

2:47:30we're doing it? Well, I think you

2:47:32explained it. That's why I don't know

2:47:33why you're reading it again.

2:47:34>> Who explained it?

2:47:34>> I thought I heard you explain it, but

2:47:36Okay. All right.

2:47:37>> If you want to read it, I don't know.

2:47:38There's only two sentences left. Who

2:47:39cares? Suggested motion where pursuant

2:47:41to Mass General law chapter 40 section

2:47:435B. The city council pre-established a

2:47:45special purpose stabilization fund to

2:47:46receive the retained statewide opioid

2:47:48settlement funds. And whereas the city

2:47:49council determines the fund should be

2:47:51reauthorized for the purpose of

2:47:52assisting city efforts to address the

2:47:53impact of opioid epidemic in accordance

2:47:55with the settlement terms and

2:47:56conditions. Now therefore, the city

2:47:57council moves that pursuant to mass

2:47:58general law chapter 40 section 5B, the

2:48:00city council reauthorizes the city

2:48:02existing opioid stabilization fund that

2:48:04all funds in the existing fund shall

2:48:05remain vi available for expenditure

2:48:07without further appropriation in the

2:48:08reauthorized opioid stabilization fund

2:48:10and shall not revert to the general fund

2:48:13by reason of expiration or prior

2:48:15authorization period. That all statewide

2:48:17opioid settlement funds by the city as a

2:48:19result of the opioid litigation be

2:48:20dedicated without further appropriation

2:48:22to the city's opioid stabilization fund.

2:48:25that all statewide settlement funds must

2:48:26be expended in accordance with the

2:48:27opioid settlement agreement terms and

2:48:29conditions and restrictions said fund to

2:48:31remain until all settlement proceeds

2:48:33have been received and all funds have

2:48:34been expended in accordance with the

2:48:36opioid settlement agreement terms

2:48:37conditions and restrictions.

2:48:39>> Second.

2:48:39>> That's a motion. Second. Thank you,

2:48:40Council Can. And then just so everybody

2:48:42knows, the city finance subcommittee met

2:48:44on 9:22 and it was voted unanimously to

2:48:46recommend 500.

2:48:48>> Any further discussion? All those in

2:48:50favor? Mr. Daviani?

2:48:51>> Yes.

2:48:51>> Malik,

2:48:52>> yes. Yes. Stephanie,

2:48:54>> Miss Bryant, yes. Myself, yes. Mr. Lo,

2:48:56>> yes.

2:48:57>> Long.

2:48:58>> Yes. Mr.

2:48:59>> Ward, yes.

2:48:59>> Miss Feny,

2:49:00>> yes. Mr. Canon,

2:49:01>> yes.

2:49:01>> Alexander,

2:49:02>> yes.

2:49:03>> Okay.

2:49:05Next is the licensing coordinator. The

2:49:07first um issue is a junk dealers and and

2:49:10or antique secondhand goods for road

2:49:12show concepts, the Hotland Road Show at

2:49:151657 Wester Road, Firmingham, October

2:49:1820th to 24th.

2:49:19>> Make a motion to approve.

2:49:20>> Second.

2:49:21>> Second. Any further discussion? All

2:49:23those in favor? Miss Malik?

2:49:25>> Yes.

2:49:25>> Mr. Stephani? Yes. M. Bryant?

2:49:28>> Yes.

2:49:28>> Myself? Yes. Mr. Bruno?

2:49:30>> Yes.

2:49:30>> Miss Long?

2:49:31>> Yes.

2:49:32>> Mr. Wood?

2:49:32>> Yes. M.

2:49:33>> Feny?

2:49:33>> Yes.

2:49:34>> Mr. Can? Yes.

2:49:35>> Mr. Alexander?

2:49:36>> Mr. Aviani?

2:49:37>> Yes.

2:49:37>> Okay. Next is request license

2:49:39coordinator. Vote upon the Hawker

2:49:41Peddler's license for David Greenberg

2:49:42DBA Springers Wholesale Flowers 121 West

2:49:46Wister Road, which is the Walmart

2:49:47parking lot from November 16th to

2:49:49December 29th.

2:49:49>> So move, Mr. Chairman. Second.

2:49:51Okay. All those all those in favor?

2:49:54>> Yes.

2:49:55>> Miss Bryant?

2:49:56>> Yes.

2:49:57>> Myself? Yes. Mr. Lambero? M Miss Long?

2:50:00>> Yes.

2:50:01>> Mr. Ward?

2:50:01>> Yes.

2:50:02>> Miss Feny?

2:50:02>> Yes.

2:50:03>> Mr. Canon?

2:50:03>> Yes.

2:50:04>> Mr. Alexander?

2:50:05>> Yes.

2:50:06>> Mr. Aani? Yes. Miss Malik?

2:50:08>> Yes.

2:50:09>> Okay.

2:50:10Um, [clears throat] so next, the

2:50:12referrals to the finance subcommittee,

2:50:14which would be, let me just make sure I

2:50:17miss anything. 17 is consideration of a

2:50:2025-year agreement between the city and

2:50:21the solar company. 18 I'm going to refer

2:50:24to these unless anyone objects. 18 is

2:50:26referrals to finance subcommittee

2:50:27consider consideration of an

2:50:29appropriation to pay costs associated

2:50:30with extending trash and recycle pickup.

2:50:33And

2:50:3519 is re uh consideration of

2:50:37supplemental budget appropriations to

2:50:38pay costs associated with the operation

2:50:40of emergency milex regional emergency

2:50:42communication center. in 20 years

2:50:44referrals of finance section committee

2:50:46presentation of proposed development by

2:50:47the development plan for the Pearl

2:50:49Street garage by the premier economic

2:50:51development corporation and proposed

2:50:53gift conveyance to the FEDC. So those

2:50:56are all referred report council chair

2:50:59council received an email on September

2:51:0024th from SEB housing announcing a wait

2:51:03list for affordable housing options in

2:51:04Waltham. If anybody's interested um you

2:51:08can contact the council office and we

2:51:10give you the contact information. We

2:51:11received an email on 9:29 from the

2:51:13building commissioner of Bray with a

2:51:15letter sent to CSX Transportation

2:51:17regarding 480 Holler Street which is an

2:51:19order to cease and desist for their

2:51:21tenant transload X operations. Transload

2:51:25X responded on October 1st and the email

2:51:27was forwarded to everyone. The ST

2:51:29sustainability committee shared his 2026

2:51:32recommendations. It was forwarded to the

2:51:33full council on October 1st. Erin

2:51:36Ellsworth is connecting with connecting

2:51:38with council Malik on that letter. Uh

2:51:41Ron Chick who's here tonight emailed the

2:51:43council informing all of us that he was

2:51:45to attend a grants conference at

2:51:46American Science 250 forum at Boston's

2:51:49Museum Museum of Science on the 3rd of

2:51:51October and we're sharing the

2:51:53information that may benefit the city.

2:51:54Did you have a good time, Mr. Chick?

2:51:57>> I'm waiting for the results of 120

2:52:00people that participated.

2:52:01>> Okay.

2:52:02>> I can I can

2:52:03>> Yeah, briefly. Yeah.

2:52:06>> Um

2:52:08the way it was set up was to uh look at

2:52:13how

2:52:14I don't know it's $150 billion in

2:52:16federal funds for science on a yearly

2:52:18basis was distributed. And historically

2:52:21um from World War II that there were

2:52:24five uh states that benefited the most

2:52:27because they already had existing

2:52:28science uh capacity and that would be

2:52:31Massachusetts um Maryland, New Mexico,

2:52:35um California and I believe Washington

2:52:37State. And the question that's being

2:52:39posed is

2:52:40>> [snorts]

2:52:41>> um how should that funding be looked at

2:52:44moving forward that most of the

2:52:47recipients of the funding have been

2:52:48universities which we're here in

2:52:51Massachusetts with u medical centers and

2:52:54and hospitals again another asset that

2:52:57we have and um uh private corporations

2:53:02and they also included uh a couple of

2:53:04other categories uh one being uh the

2:53:07general public having input. Uh and

2:53:10another one uh the uh nonprofits for

2:53:14example like uh OS or different

2:53:16different nonprofit groups having a role

2:53:18in deciding where funding goes. Uh,

2:53:21another element that was in there was um

2:53:25political appointees in their role in

2:53:27decision-making and there were at least

2:53:29five categories where that came up and

2:53:31in every single category that came in

2:53:34last uh by the people that were

2:53:36represented there and I don't know what

2:53:37the motivation is uh for that being in

2:53:40there but it was obvious that the public

2:53:41that was there did not think that uh uh

2:53:44political appointees should have a

2:53:46significant role in deciding where

2:53:47funding goes. [laughter]

2:53:49>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. check. And the last

2:53:51announcement I have is Gail Monu of

2:53:53Miller AD drop left a letter she sent to

2:53:55the building commissioner pre date is

2:53:56September 30th. She asked if you share

2:53:58with council Stephanini and it was

2:54:00emailed to the entire council report.

2:54:02>> Mr. Chairman, could we take that last

2:54:04item and put it as the commissioner to

2:54:06come in and talk about ADUs?

2:54:09>> Yes.

2:54:10>> Thank you.

2:54:11>> Okay. So, report subcommittees. Any

2:54:13subcommittee have to report here? Seeing

2:54:16none, reporter counselors, Mr. umbrella.

2:54:19>> I I just want to say before anybody we

2:54:23forget, I wanted to say that tonight is

2:54:25well today all day is one of our

2:54:27favorite city council's birthday. So,

2:54:30we're either going to sing happy

2:54:32birthday or just [laughter]

2:54:33>> happy birthday, you know,

2:54:35>> or just I like to wish him a very happy

2:54:38birthday and hope you have a wonderful

2:54:40day and I'm glad you got to spend it

2:54:41with some of your most favorite people

2:54:43in your life.

2:54:46>> Yeah, that's nice. We could have got a

2:54:48cake.

2:54:49>> I know. Well, we do have a bag of candy.

2:54:50We could just toss a candle in it.

2:54:52>> My birthday.

2:54:53>> Happy birthday.

2:54:53>> Happy birthday.

2:54:55>> Whose birthday is it?

2:54:56>> Sunday was Tracy's birthday.

2:54:59>> Birthdays.

2:55:00>> All right.

2:55:01>> And my sister's is today, too.

2:55:03>> All right. Anybody have any

2:55:06>> We're going to adjourn, Mr. Chairman.

2:55:08>> I just have to say something

2:55:10withdrawn. Mr. Chairman.

2:55:11>> Oh, wait. Hold on. It's a

2:55:12>> Just wanted to say something real quick.

2:55:15>> Thank you. Yes. Thank you. Thank you.

2:55:17>> And the vote of the journ is recognized.

2:55:20>> Thank you for uh birthday wishes. Uh

2:55:23it's great being with y'all. Of course.

2:55:24Um wait, my cake is waiting. Uh I also

2:55:27just wanted to say um I I want to give a

2:55:30quick shout out to um our utility

2:55:32partners. Um because uh there was an

2:55:34issue on Oaks Road um with um the pole

2:55:37taken out and the sidewalk was messed

2:55:39up. Kids were walking around in the

2:55:42street uh to the schools. Um, I made a

2:55:45couple of calls and um, the issue got

2:55:48resolved fairly quickly within 10 days

2:55:52and that's uh, that's a pretty good um,

2:55:54story. So, I just wanted to share that

2:55:56and thank you to all the

2:55:58>> Happy birthday. Thank you.

2:55:59>> Okay. All those in favor of the motion

2:56:00is journ.

2:56:02>> Yes. Janet.

2:56:03>> Myself. Yes.

2:56:05>> Mr. Lebro.

2:56:06>> Yes.

2:56:06>> Miss Long.

2:56:07>> Yes.

2:56:08>> Mr. Ward.

2:56:08>> Yes.

2:56:09>> M. Feny. Mr. Cannon. Mr. Alexander. Mr.

2:56:11Aani. Miss Malik.

2:56:12>> Big Longhorn. Yes, y'all.

2:56:14>> That's a wrap.

2:56:17[music]

2:56:28[music]