Responding to COVID
- Responded swiftly to the COVID-19 pandemic: reorganized city functions, mounted a city-wide campaign to respond, educate, and track the progress in fighting the pandemic
- Opened testing sites and organized vaccination events for our most vulnerable residents
- Redefined engagement with our older adults in the face of the pandemic: phone health checks and expanding the access to virtual content and programming
- $27 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Joe Biden, will soon pour into Framingham
- Enabled restaurants to reopen as quickly as possible, made temporary outdoor seating possible, and reduced/waived fees
- Established the COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program to assist our small businesses during the pandemic and moved online the fee payment for certain services.
Smooth Transition to City Form of Government
- Released a long-range Strategic Plan in 2020 as required by the Charter
- Defended and upheld the City Charter in transitioning from a town-form of government to a city-form of government.
- Hired Citizen Participation Officer
- Consistently met in person or online with Framingham residents
- Improved efficiency, transparency, and data access to the community by partnering with OpenGov, a cloud software company
Excellence in Education and Schools
- Advocated for state funding of the new Fuller Middle School
- Advocated for the Student Opportunity Act for an update in the foundation budget categories and infusion of funding
- Supported robust teaching and learning especially throughout the pandemic as we transitioned to remote learning
- Consistently provided a robust budget for the school department to ensure there’s resources to maintain quality education in our district
Invigorating Our Economy: Planned Growth, Balanced Development
- Established a Traffic Commission and initiated Nobscot intersection improvements
- Cleaned up the General Chemical site at 133-135 Leland Street
- Secured federal funding for the upcoming Union avenue roadway improvements
- Established a Framingham Sustainability Committee and hired Framingham’s first Sustainability Coordinator
Preservation of Assets, Resources and Quality of Life
- Negotiated a fair contract for Framingham police officers and superior officers
- Signed Joint Order to Review and Adopt Common Sense Reforms to the Use of Force Policies of the Framingham Police Department
- Signed Joint Order Declaring Racism an Emergency and Public Health Crisis in the City of Framingham
- Stabilized Framingham’s AA Credit Rating despite the water-sewer deficit we experienced Framingham’s credit rating has remained favorable despite water and sewer crisis
- Supported the Community Preservation Act that was adopted by voters in 2020
- Building of the Irving Street pocket park and the design development of a dog park is underway
Investing in Our People
- Recruited more diverse staff across the municipal organization and the city’s boards and commissions
- Promoted first African American to serve in the role of Framingham Police Chief
- Recruited and hired Framingham’s first Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
- Initiated a women and families working group to address issues like paid leave, fair and equitable wages, childcare, and after-school programs
