FDTC Minutes of August 25, 2016

Framingham Democratic Town CommitteeMcAuliffe Library 746 Water St. Framingham, MA 01701

Special Meeting Minutes – Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 6:30 PM

Call to Order: Chair Beverly Hugo called the meeting to order at 6:32 PM.

1. Attendance: Members: Craig Broyles, Beverly Hugo, Michael Hugo, Barbara LeDuc, Jack Lewis, Chris Lorant, Tom Mahoney, Kathie McCarthy, Margareth Shepard, Norma Shulman, Jim Stockless, Parwez Wahid, Mel Warshaw. Lifetime Members: none.  Associate Members: none. Guests: none.

2. Bev noted that the purpose of tonight’s special meeting is to approve (or not) the expenditure of our funds to 1) rent a coordinated campaign office for use during the upcoming elections, and to 2) purchase Hillary Clinton lawn signs, buttons and bumper stickers.

A. Office: the address is 931 Worcester Rd. in Framingham Center.  Several properties were viewed by a number of members; only this address was found to be suitable and available.  There are two options: $2500 for two months (September 10 to November 10) or $3000 for three months (September 1 to December 1.)  Utility costs will be in addition. Beverly reviewed the attributes of this property.  Parwez Wahid and Jim Stockless have collected pledges from some campaigns (Clark, Gentile, Jubinville, Sannicandro) for $1700 toward the office cost, and are awaiting additional responses. The MA Democratic Party will supply office equipment. 

The Chair first asked if the sense of the committee was to rent an office.  The answer was yes, unanimously.  After discussion, M. Hugo made a motion (J. Stockless seconded) to pay $3000 to rent for three months.  The motion passed unanimously.

B. Hillary Clinton campaign items: An order for 150 lawn signs (at $5 each), 100 buttons (at $1 each) and 50 bumper stickers (at $1 each; total cost $900) can be sent to the MA Democratic Party which will place a large order to get low prices. The total we are submitting reflects both the amount for the FDTC and a small order for individual members. N. Shulman made a motion (Kathie McCarthy seconded) to authorize an expenditure of up to $900 to pay for the items. (It should be noted that some of the items will be paid for by individual members, and that the FDTC previously determined that the excess funds raised at the DSC meeting would be spent on campaigns.) The motion passed unanimously.

All business being concluded, the meeting was adjourned at 7:14 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara LeDuc, Secretary