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

Heritage at Framingham 747 Water St. Framingham, MA 01701

Minutes – Sunday, June 5, 2016 at 6 PM

Beverly thanked everyone who attended Lowell State convention yesterday and congratulated Stephanie Mercandetti, Joan Rastani & Audrey Hall for their photo in The Boston Globe.

1. Attendance: Members: Elsa Aviza, Chris Broyles, Jeanne Bullock, Carmen Chico, Jack Duffy, Maureen Dunne, Patrick Dunne, Beverly Hugo, Mike Hugo, Steve Joyce, Barbara LeDuc, Jack Lewis, Chris Lorant, Kathie McCarthy, Stephanie Mercandetti, Joan Rastani, Margareth Shepard, Norma Shulman, Jim Stockless, Parwez Wahid, Mel Warshaw. Lifetime Members: none.  Associate Members: Barbara Fontes, Ann Jeffris, Cynthia Villanueva. Guests: Harry Breault, Preston Crow, Ohad Klopman, Anne Manning, Rachel Quinn, David Rosenblum, Rob Scherer, Larry Stoodt.

2. 5-15-2016 Minutes: Secretary Barbara LeDuc                              Approved unanimously

3. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Margareth Shepard                        Approved unanimously

A total income of $35.00 and zero expenses increased the 5-15-16 balance of $3925.05 to $3960.05.

4. Election of new member: To fill the previously announced vacancy, Cynthia Villanueva was nominated for membership by Mike Hugo (seconded by Mel Warshaw). On a voice vote, Cynthia was elected unanimously.

5.  Vote on Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Zone Resolution:

Larry Stoodt, who had introduced the Resolution at last month’s meeting, and Doug Stephan, owner of Eastleigh Farm, spoke to clarify the role agri-businesses such as Monsanto and DuPont played in writing this federal legislation. The trade pact would be similar to NAFTA, and would further expose US businesses to international lawsuits. Norma Shulman suggested a friendly amendment to add the President of the U.S. to the list of elected officials to be notified that the FDTC had passed this proposed resolution. A copy of the resolution is attached below.  The amendment passed. Next, Norma Shulman made a motion (Kathie McCarthy second) to pass the Resolution urging our Senators and Representatives in Congress to vote against the TPP.  The Resolution, as amended, passed on a vote of 18-0-2.

6. Announcements:

•           BBQ Preparations:  The date for our BBQ is still undetermined, but volunteers for the BBQ Subcommittee were: Jim Stockless, Mel Warshaw, Norma Shulman, Joan Rastani, Parwez Wahid, Barbara LeDuc, Margareth Shepard, Chris Lorant and Mike and Bev Hugo.  Jeanne Bullock will be the convener.

•           Concerts on the Common will begin June 17th, and Norma needs volunteers for setup, take down, and assisting with voter registration. Jim Stockless, Ohad Klopman and Mike & Barbara LeDuc have signed up for shifts. More are needed.

•           The Coordinated Campaign will probably be unable to procure free space for an office this year.

7.  By-laws Discussion: After prolonged discussion, it was decided that the present discussion by the full FDTC should be tabled until our September 18 meeting.  In the meantime, the Bylaws Subcommittee will reconvene and resolve the few remaining issues, some involving co-ordination with the State Democratic Party charter, and be ready to present the completed document to the full FDTC on September 18.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:47 PM.

Respectfully submitted by Barbara LeDuc, Secretary

The charity for our September meeting will again be the Boys & Girls Club of Framingham. They will need back-to-school items, board games and art supplies. Their wish list is at http://www.bgcmetrowest.org/ways-to-give/wish-list/  

END

From 7 to 9 PM following the business meeting, we held a Forum for candidates for the office of State Representative for the 7th Middlesex District. The 7th Middlesex District is comprised of Ashland plus Framingham precincts 8, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18.) The forum was cosponsored by the Framingham and Ashland Democratic Town Committees (Makeda Keegan & David Rosenblum, Ashland DTC co-chairs, were present).

Rick Holmes, the Opinions Editor, Metrowest Daily News, served as Moderator; Francesca Cerutti-Harris and Phil Reimann from Access Framingham Cable TV directed filming. The event will be broadcast to Framingham and Ashland residents at a time to be announced.

The candidates were:

·         Jack P. Lewis of Framingham

·         Phil Jack of Ashland

·         Brett Walker of Ashland

Candidates were permitted a three minute opening statement, two minutes to answer each of the questions posed by Rick Holmes, and a three minute closing statement.

The topics of questions presented by Mr. Holmes were: Immigration issues (e.g. In-state tuition for undocumented students, driver’s licenses for undocumented residents, and police cooperation with ICE), the Charter School cap, raising the minimum wage to $15 / hr, agreement with Common Core standards, recreational marijuana legalization, the opioid crisis, transportation priorities, income inequality, dealing with the State House Speaker’s Office and the attendant frustrations.

Whereas:            U.S. trade deals over the last 25 years have been corporate-driven, incorporating rules that skew benefits to economic elites while requiring working families to bear the brunt of such policies; and

Whereas:            The growing trade deficits, driven by the North American Free Trade Agreement, China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, and the U.S. Korea Free Trade Agreement, have displaced 700,000 jobs, 3.2 million jobs, and 75,000 jobs respectively, and

Whereas:            U.S. employment in manufacturing dropped by 5 million jobs from 2000 to 2015, jobs lost due to trade devastate families and entire communities, and this can permanently reduce lifetime earnings for hundreds of thousands of workers, and

Whereas:            The long decline of the American manufacturing base-exacerbated by bad trade policies that reward outsourcing-has undermined our economic security and poses a threat to our national security; and

Whereas:            The offshoring of manufacturing and service jobs deprives local and state governments of sorely needed revenues, jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of public servants as well as construction workers whose jobs depend upon infrastructure building, repair, and maintenance, and

Whereas:            Under NAFTA-style trade rules, the U.S. annual trade deficit has increased dramatically from $70 billion in 1993, the year before NAFTA went into effect, to more than $508 billion in 2014, and

Whereas:            The disproportionate voice of powerful global corporations in the formation of U.S. ”free trade” agreements has advanced an agenda that undermines the public interest  and threatens democracy; and

Whereas:            NAFTA and all but two of the U.S. trade deals that followed it include special legal rights for foreign investors, known as “investor-to state dispute settlement” (or ISDS), that allow foreign firms to bypass state and federal courts to challenge state and federal laws, regulations, and administrative and judicial decisions in international tribunals; and

Whereas:            Foreign investors already have used NAFTA’s ISDS provisions to challenge decisions regarding local building permits, environmental regulations, state bans on toxic chemicals and decisions of state courts; and

Whereas:            Climate change and environmental degradation threaten communities across the globe, and ISDS provisions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) may expose enacting policies to fight climate change to ISDS cases that undermine these efforts, and

Whereas:            Promoting economic growth with equity in Massachusetts requires an approach that reforms the entire trade negotiation process to ensure that the voices of workers, farmers, small businesses, Families and communities are heard and their interests addressed; and

Whereas:            The TPP has not been negotiated in a transparent manner, effectively shutting state and local governments out of the process, limiting our ability to influence its rules to ensure the people in communities like Framingham can participate in the benefits of trade; and

Whereas:            Given the enactment of fast track trade negotiating authority, states, localities and their citizens will have no opportunity to correct shortcomings in the TPP since its text was not made public until it is final and can no longer be improved; and

Whereas:            Repeating old mistakes in negotiating new trade agreements such as the TPP represents a missed opportunity to strengthen our economy, reduce income inequality and promote sustainable growth; now therefore be it

Resolved:            The Democratic Town Committee of Framingham formally goes on record in calling upon our elected officials in the Massachusetts Legislature to support H3133, and the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to oppose the TPP and similar trade deals if they fail to restructure the misguided and failed policies of the past; and be it

Resolve:               That the Secretary be hereby requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this resolution to the Framingham delegation of the Massachusetts House and Senate, and to the Massachusetts Delegation to the United States Senate and the United States Congress and to the President of the United States on behalf of the Town of Framingham.

Framingham Green 136 Maynard Road, Framingham, MA 01701

Minutes – Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 7 PM 

–       Welcome back to Betty Muto who is recovering from an orthopedic injury

–       Welcome again to long time former member Rosalie Cotton

–       – Charity for tonight is “Hoops & Homework”.  Herb Chasan described the program and its         needs for school supplies (chairs, puzzles, snack foods) and thanked FDTC members for their support & donations.

1. Attendance: Members: Elsa Aviza, Lori Bornstein, Chris Broyles, Jeanne Bullock, Carmen Chico, Jack Duffy, Jeanne Eversley, Linda Fields, Beverly Hugo, Mike Hugo, Shahid Khan, Barbara LeDuc, Jack Lewis, Chris Lorant, Tom Mahoney, Kathie McCarthy, Stephanie Mercandetti, Joan Rastani, Cindy Rubin, Margareth Shepard, Norma Shulman, Jim Stockless, Parwez Wahid, Mel Warshaw. Lifetime Members: Betty Muto.  Associate Members: Cynthia Villanueva. Guests: Nick Bokron, Herb Chasan, Rosalie Cotton, Jim DeSimone, Tania Jaime, Ohad Klopman, Rachel Quinn, Sheri Thomas.

2. 4-3-2016 Minutes: Secretary Barbara LeDuc                               Approved unanimously

3. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Margareth Shepard                    Approved unanimously

A total income of $115.32 and expenses of $97.98 increased the 4-3-16 balance of $3907.39 to $3925.05. 

4.  Announcements:

·         Larry Stoodt spoke about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Zone. The proposed agreement is much like the NAFTA, will cost American Jobs, and exposes US businesses to a substantial risk of lawsuits.  It is currently under consideration by the US Congress, and is opposed by Sens. Warren and Markey and endorsed by President Obama.  Larry wants the FDTC to consider supporting a resolution to oppose the TPP at our next meeting on June 5.  A draft of the resolution is attached to these minutes. (For members interested in further information, Larry can be reached at [email protected] or 508-877-3838.)

·         Candidate Statements:

Jack P. Lewis is a candidate for State Representative for the 7th Middlesex District, to replace Tom Sannicandro who is not running for re-election.

– Jack announced he has been endorsed by Mass Alliance (www.massalliance.org)

– He will speak at a Candidate Forum held by the Advocates, Inc. on 5/24.

– Jack introduced his new campaign manager, Rachel Quinn ([email protected]).

·         AAPI month
Parwez Wahid noted that May is Asian American Pacific Islander month. In 1978, President Carter signed a Resolution denoting May as the recognition month for two historic events: in May 1843, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the US, and in May 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad was completed, largely by Chinese immigrants.  

·         Nick Bokron ([email protected]) spoke on behalf of PassMassAmendment.org.  The FDTC is a sponsor of the Amendment, and our legislators supported it.  The amendment was defeated in committee for this year, purportedly at Chairman DeLeo’s urging, and so renewed efforts to pass it next year will begin after July.

5.  Program & Discussion: Lifting of the Charter School Cap

            Tania Jaime ([email protected]), a field organizer for Save Our Public Schools, spoke on the Governor’s proposal to remove the cap on the number of charter schools in MA.  At present, charter schools serve approximately 3% of MA students, but absorb 6% of school funding. Cities and towns lose state Chapter 70 funds for transferred students, and must increase property taxes to compensate. Last year Framingham had a $600,000 shortfall in Charter school reimbursements, and another charter school for Framingham is planned.  Save Our Public Schools MA seeks to maintain the cap on charter school numbers.  FDTC members held a vigorous discussion on the merits of charter schools and requested to hear more about the benefits of charter schools in the future; some are excellent.  Other members feel the state should compensate the cities and towns for the full costs, or at least acknowledge the true losses.

(see www.saveourpublicschoolsma.com for further information).

6.  Announcement of a vacancy on the FDTC:

            Lloyd Kaye has resigned from the FDTC due to personal time issues. An election to fill the vacant seat will be held on 6-5-2016. Please convey this message to any qualified candidates interested in running for the seat.  For further information, contact Bev Hugo, Chair ([email protected]). 

7. Updating the By-Laws: Discussion was led by Mike Hugo, Chair of the By-Laws Subcommittee.

            There were 24 voting members of the FDTC present. (A quorum is 9.)  A meeting of the By-Laws subcommittee was held earlier today and some changes to the proposed text were developed.  Possible updates were divided into two categories: “Consent” changes vs. “Discussion (possibly controversial)” changes.  Regarding the “Consent” updates, “Sense of the Committee” votes were taken on several Articles, which were passed unanimously, with the exception of Article 3, Section 3: Vice Chair duties, which had one vote opposed.  (A copy of the most recent draft of the proposed By-laws is attached to these minutes. Approved Articles appear in black; Articles remaining to be discussed in June are in red.)

            Discussion began on the potentially controversial (“Discussion”) updates: Article 1 (Purpose of the FDTC), Article 2 (re: Youth membership, which does not appear in the current draft), Article 3, Section 7 (Composition of the Executive Subcommittee), and Article 4, Section 1 (Annual vs. Organizational Meetings). In addition, an FDTC voting member proposed that we codify the existence & composition of the Nominating Subcommittee; this does not yet appear in the attached draft.  These items will be further discussed and voted on at the June 5 meeting, and, if the entire document is approved, then sent to all FDTC voting members.  The final approval vote, required to be taken after a minimum of 30 days after distribution, will be taken in September.

8. Funds for the General Election:

Parwez Wahid asked that we discuss appropriating funds at our June meeting. In addition to the approximately $400 remaining from the DSC meeting funds, we may need to disperse another $500.  Norma Shulman noted that our needs may be substantial, since the Route 9 office will not be available this year.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the State Democratic Convention              on June 4 in Lowell.

Respectfully submitted by Barbara LeDuc, Secretary

The charity for our next meeting is the Boys & Girls Club of Framingham which provides summer programs for disadvantaged youth.  Jim Stockless has contacted them to determine their needs.  Their wish list is at http://www.bgcmetrowest.org/ways-to-give/wish-list/   or a few representative items are cold packs, bandages, sun screen

(spf 30), pens & pencils, plastic bags, plastic silverware, plastic cups, freeze pops, & various art supplies (see list).

END