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This past Tuesday was the historic Fuller vote and I am so relieved and excited that Framingham overwhelmingly (86%) voted to support this project. A brand new middle school will have a positive impact on the overall quality of our school system, which is already excellent, and reinforce Framingham as a great place for parents to raise their children.

In addition, accessing state funds to build a new school will avoid the taxpayer being saddled with a bigger tab to maintain a failing building. It is true in this case that “Yes costs less!”

It is really a great thing for Framingham and I can’t wait to see the new Fuller Middle School come to life!

The Council has been very busy lately. Here are some of our greatest hits over the past couple of months.

We are considering two sets of zoning changes that will have major long-term impacts on our community. First, there are some adjustments to the Technology Park and 9/90 areas of Framingham in a new Corporate Mixed Use (CMU) designation for the area. The changes would allow for streamlined permitting for construction and greater density – both of which have potential positive economic impacts without producing some of the challenges faces in our residential areas. Framingham needs to be doing everything it can to encourage commercial development and this will be a step in that direction.

Second, we are looking at adjustments to the Adult Active (senior) Housing (AAH) section of the zoning bylaw. This revision was to address two main issues that have come up recently. One is that by state law, housing that is age-limited cannot count toward the city’s 10% affordable housing designation, an important benchmark for Framingham because it maintains our ability to provide full oversight of affordable housing projects. The other is that recently proposed AAH projects have been too dense and had too many units. We are awaiting the final proposed version of this ordinance, but we will need to ensure that it adequately meets these needs.

Other items we have worked on recently include:

• The Framingham Public Library Board of Trustees and the Library Director Mark Contois stopped by to discuss their strategic plan going forward. The Library Bookmobile will be up and running soon helping to bring library services to all areas of the city. I am also excited that the main branch will be launching a fundraising campaign to develop a public Makerspace.
• The Council voted to create a standing task force on environmental issues including the plastic bag ban. The bag ban is not working well partially because resident education has been lacking and some businesses are skirting the regulation by providing plastic bags that are beyond the scope of the restriction. I will encourage the task force to look at the little things like parking lot reminders and free access to reusable bags. In addition, the task force could take a look at the problem of nip liquor bottles littering our community and I will also be pushing for a divestment resolution from the Council.
• Councilor Cannon introduced his effort to revise our zoning laws to allow for in-law apartments, small apartments within a larger home, that could provide another way for our seniors to continue living in Framingham.
• The City Council licensed a buy/sell/trade shop that will open downtown. I and several other councilors expressed concern about the potential negative side-effects of such a business in terms of the culture of downtown and people in addiction crisis. However, the business manager did accept that these are valid concerns and did a good job of addressing them including agreeing to be trained by the Health Dept. to respond to addiction issues. I am going to stop by the shop this week to check it out in person and say hello to the owner.
• We approved several new appointments including members of the Board of Health, our first Citizen Participation Officer, Alaa Abusalah, and our Sustainability Coordinator, Shawn Luz. I am looking forward to seeing what this increased staffing is able to achieve.
• We celebrated the birthday of the city’s oldest resident, Gina Galvani, who turned 111 years old.

In addition, the Finance Committee has begun to lay the framework for our FY19 budget review and we began considering next year’s capital request.

In general, the end of the year is providing me with an opportunity to take stock of my first year as a City Councilor. It has been an amazing experience – learning how to navigate our new political system and at the same time, finding my own voice in terms of representing this city.

There are challenges, no doubt, but it is a great experience overall and I am so appreciative of the residents of district 3 who entrusted me with representing them in our first city government.

As I look ahead to the next 12 months on the Council, 10 priorities come to mind:

1. Casting a detailed eye on the next city budget to find areas where strategic reductions can be mind while preserving funding for essential services including education. We need to reduce the tax burden on businesses and residents and the only real way to do this is to find efficiencies in our budget.
2. Push our city to take the lead on environmental sustainability whenever possible. Our earth is in a crisis situation and every government from the smallest town to the federal government to the United Nations needs to be thinking about global warming with every topic that is considered.
3. Work with the Mayor to increase the transparency of our city government and enhance and promote economic development efforts that enable Framingham to better compete for new business. 
4. Push for a smart redevelopment of the Nobscot Plaza in a way that will serve all residents – and continue to advocate for thoughtful, sustainable development on our parcels in and near district 3 including the Millwood golf course, Fafard, and the RCS school.
5. Preserve Eastleigh farm through the use of zoning and innovative commercial activity including a potential cannabis cultivation operation.
6. Work with the Mayor and our state delegation to keep the creation of the Bruce Freeman Trail on track. We are limited in what we can do until Sudbury begins construction on their phase of the trail, but we can start to prepare for what is to come.
7. Be more proactive in terms of economic development. Our city needs all of its city officials to be working in the same direction – encouraging businesses to come to Framingham and to encourage existing businesses to stay.
8. Addressing potential challenges related to diversity and bigotry in Framingham with the creation of a city-based standing committee on diversity and/or a city employee with this charge. We can’t just sit back and wait for issues to develop.
9. Work with our Traffic Commission on a number of roadway safety and traffic concerns, in particular in district 3.
10. Continue to lead the education subcommittee in cooperation with the School Committee and school department to promote equity for the young residents of Framingham.

What am I missing? Reach out at any time to talk to me about YOUR priorities.

Events coming up:

Monday, December 17 – Downtown Inc. Celebration

Tuesday, December 18 – City Council

I hope that this newsletter was helpful. Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns.

Happy holidays everyone!

–Adam

asteiner@framinghamma.gov