Framingham Democratic Town Committee
September 18, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Framingham Green, 136 Maynard Rd, Framingham 01701
MINUTES
1. Call to Order: Tom Mahoney 7:20p
2. Attendance: Elsa Aviza, Nancy Coville-Wallace, Jerry Desilets, Jeanne Eversley, Beverly Hugo, Lloyd Kaye, Tom Mahoney, Stephanie Mercandetti, Farooq Mirza, Joan Rastani, Pam Roberts, Norma Shulman, P. Nandi Varris, Parwez Wahid, Mel Warshaw, Christopher Broyles**, Carmen Chico**, Jack Duffy** , Ramuel M Raagas, Chris Walsh, Tom Sannicandro, Karen Spilka,
3. Minutes of June 12, 2011 Tabled
4. Treasurer’s Report: Beverly Hugo Approved
- Balance before bbq receipts $2654.00
- Bank change pending
5. Old Business
- Cookbook update: Beverly Hugo we are still accepting recipes. Goal for publishing is Thanksgiving. Volunteers are needed to bring bok to publication. Pam Roberts typing the recipes. Nandi Varris offered to help.
6. Candidates Forum – 5 minutes with 3 questions
- Herb Robinson, Candidate for US Senate from New York, resident of Newton. Herb said he is a regular citizen who has a technological background, Talked about unsafe nuclear and other energy. “If you don’t want to help me, help somebody, (sic) a democratit doesn’t matter who.” He spoke about the need for those who have the most money and power in this country to be held fiscally responsible, “ as unemployment goes up, their taxes should go up”
7. New Business:
- Election of New Members:
Candidates: Carmen Chico, Jack Duffy, Courtney Elgart, Ramuel Raagas, Mel Warshaw
(Voting Results As Follows with 14 Voting Members)
| Ballots | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | |
| Candidates | Totals | ||||||||||||||
| Carmen Chico | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | |||
| Jack Duffy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||||||
| Courtney Elgart | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||
| Ramuel Raagas | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |||||||
| Mel Warshaw | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||||
| 42 | |||||||||||||||
Congratulations to new FDTC members: Carmen Chico, Jack Duffy and Mel Warshaw
- Town Committee Elections
Members: If you want to be on the Town Committee slate for the Presidential elections, send an email expressing your intent to Chair Tom Mahoney. Nomination papers will be available to sign at next meeting for members. For all others: Nomination Papers for town and ward committees are available from the Secretary of Commonwealth Elections Division office or our local town clerk’s office.
8. Program: From the Hill
- Sen. Karen Spilka is the Economic Development Chair and the Job Creation Committee Chair. Redistricting: Full redistricting information will be coming in Oct. We will go from 10 to 9 seats for US Reps. If Republicans don’t like what House comes up with, they will sue. Transparency has been excellent in the redistricting process with lots of opportunity for questions and input from residents of Massachusetts. Economy: Since last year, MA has been among the top 5 states in job creation in the Nation. Pension Reform bill had to be passed or our bond rating would be downgraded. Lots of collaborative work is being done through the Mass Marketing Partnership. Gaming: Concerned about casino, not sure how she will vote yet. Milford is very concerned. She has been working to put language into the bill to protect Metrowest. (Sen Spilka will be asking for signatures for her nomination papers for the State Democratic Committee.)
- Rep. Tom Sannicandro, Higher Education Committee, Redistricting: Tom will lose 1 precinct in Framingham. (He is not sure which one yet.) Gaming: House voted on it already. Top folks have already decided where monies from gambling will go. Tom was able to lobby additional 5% to Higher Education. Education Committee: Promoting Public Colleges. Trying to increase research money by putting into practice State contributing $1 to education and Federal will contribute $3. Tom mentioned the Worchester area boom due to research and development monie flowing into that city.
- Rep. Chris Walsh, Working on passing Alimony Reform, Bill Cosby Intellectual Property Law, Investment in Tourism and Framingham Aqueduct Trails (MWRA will maintain the trails). Diversity: Brazilian Consulate looking for an office in Framingham. Chris has been involved with talks with Consulate and the Brazilian Alliance. Education: Added money to SPED and Chapter 70 budgets. Judicial System: Courts will have a Civil Administrator. Juvenile Court plans to move to Marlboro. .
9. Announcements:
- Norma: Thanks to Framed in Time, Parwez and Farooq for their help on special project.
- Chris is happy to host FDTC BBQ next year too
- FTDC will support Eagles Thanksgiving Dinner in November
- Sat. Morning over Coffee beginning Sept 24th
- Sept. 28th Susanne Bump at Westin Golf Club… see Parwez for discounted tickets.
- Oct 3rd Visioning Farm Pond
- Oct 4th all Senate candidate forum in Lowell
10. Next Meeting: Tom Mahoney – Oct. 23, 2011
- NOTE: BRING NON PERISHABLES FOR UNITED WAY FOOD PANTRY.
- Elsa Nancy and Stephanie will bring refreshments
11. Adjourn: 9:45pm
Respectfully submitted by P. N. Varris, Secretary