Minutes November 20, 2022

Framingham Democratic Committee 

 

Minutes for November 20, 2022, 7 pm – via Zoom Conference 

Zoom Only

 

Next FDC Meeting Date:  December 18th -> moved to 11th, 2022

Planned as Zoom/In person Hybrid Meeting / Holiday Party

Location TBD – ( later determined to be Edwards Hall, Saxonville)

 

Meeting Attendees:  All FDC members listed, those in BOLD were present

 

Members: Lori Bornstein, Christopher Broyles, Tracey Bryant, Jeanne Bullock, Jerry Desilets,  Patrick Dunne,  Mary Kate Feeney,  Barbara Fontes,  Adam Freudberg,  Kurt Fusaris, Linda Fields, Danielle Gregoire,  Audrey Hall, Jim Hansen , Brooke Harvey, Leslie White Harvey, Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley, Beverly Hugo,  Mike Hugo, Shahid Khan,  Ohad Klopman, Doug Lawrence, Barbara LeDuc,  Caraline Levy, Chris Lorant, Jack Patrick Lewis, David Magnani, Thom Mahoney, Betty Muto, Kathie McCarthy, Amanda Northrup, Phil Ottaviani,  Cindy Rubin, Margareth Shepard,  Norma Shulman,  Ravi Simon, Priscila Sousa, Yvonne Spicer,  Adam Steiner, John Stefanini, Cesar Stewart-Morales, Jim Stockless,  Larry Stoodt, Cheryl Tully-Stoll,  Parwez Wahid,  Mel Warshaw 

 

Associate Members:  Rob Adamson, Kalee Balde, Maureen Dunne, Ricky Finlay, Karen Garafolo, David Gordon, Tilia Klebenov Jacobs, William LaBarge, Andrew Machkasov, Isabella Petroni, Joan Rastani, Pamela Roberts, Brandon Ward, Joel Winett 

 

Guests: Kate Donoghue, Larry Falk, Diane Markowitz

 

AGENDA

7:00 – 7:10 Welcome, & initial announcements – Mike Hugo

7:10 – 7:55 Crisis Care Centers – Truth, Disclosure and Choice: Pro-Choice is not always Anti-Abortion: A discussion moderated by Nicole Doak 

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Votes From Feb 26 Meeting

Two Significant Motions Brought To Vote

At the February 26, 2023 business meeting of the Framingham Democratic Committee two motions were brought to vote in relation to remarks made by the FDC Chair Mike Hugo during the Feb 7 City Council meeting.

The first motion was for the FDC membership to endorse the statement from the FDC Executive Committee repudiating the chair’s remarks.  This motion passed with overwhelming support.

The second motion called for an agenda item to be included in the next (March) business meeting of the FDC for the members to consider removal of the chair and if so removed, to fill the vacancy by election.  This motion did not pass by a vote of 11-yes,  to 16-no with 1 abstention.

 

Apology From Chair

Statement of Apology and Press Release

At the February 7, 2023 Framingham City Council meeting FDC Chair Mike Hugo  made remarks in opposition to the establishment of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) in the City of Framingham.  In his remarks Chair Hugo made some offensive comments for which he has apologized.

The Framingham Democratic Committee’s Executive Committee issued a press release speaking out against the comments made by Chair Hugo.

Links to the chair’s letter of apology and press release follow:

Letter of apology by Mike Hugo:
Hugo’s statement of apology

Press release from Executive Committee:
PRESS-RELEASE-17-Feb-2023

McCarthy Elected To State Committee

Fills Disability Vacancy Seat

FDC member Kathie McCarthy was elected to the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee during the February 11th meeting held at Lynn Classical High School.

Kathie becomes the 4th member of the FDC now serving on the State Committee.  She fills a vacancy in the female disability seat.

She served on the Framingham Disabilities Commission from 2004 through 2016 as a strong vocal advocate for the disabled. She has been a caretaker/advocate for family and friends throughout their medical struggles.

Minutes October 16, 2022

Meeting Attendees:  All FDC members listed, those in BOLD were present

 

Members: Lori Bornstein, Christopher Broyles, Tracey Bryant, Jeanne Bullock, Jerry Desilets,  Patrick Dunne,  Mary Kate Feeney,  Barbara Fontes,  Adam Freudberg,  Kurt Fusaris, Linda Fields, Danielle Gregoire,  Audrey Hall, Jim Hansen , Brooke Harvey, Leslie White Harvey, Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley, Beverly Hugo,  Mike Hugo, Shahid Khan,  Ohad Klopman, William LaBarge Doug Lawrence, Barbara LeDuc,  Caraline Levy, Chris Lorant, Jack Patrick Lewis, David Magnani, Thom Mahoney, Betty Muto, Kathie McCarthy, Amanda Northrup, Phil Ottaviani, , Cindy Rubin, Margareth Shepard,  Norma Shulman,  Ravi Simon, Priscila Sousa, Yvonne Spicer,  Adam Steiner, John Stefanini, Cesar Stewart-Morales, Jim Stockless,  Larry Stoodt, Cheryl Tully-Stoll,  Parwez Wahid,  Mel Warshaw

 

Associate Members:  Rob Adamson, Kalee Balde, Maureen Dunne, Ricky Finlay, Karen Garafolo, David Gordon, Tilia Klebenov Jacobs, Andrew Machkasov, Isabella Petroni, Joan Rastani, Pamela Roberts, Brandon Ward, Joel Winett

 

 

Guests: Menakshi Verma Agrawal, Bijan Afshartous, Nanette Magnani, Bridgette Griffin

 

AGENDA

 

 

7:00 – 7:10 Welcome,  initial announcements – Mike Hugo

7:10 – 7:40 Presentation by Framingham Families for Racial Equity in Education (FFREE) –Menakshi Verma Agrawal

7:40 – 7:43 Treasurer’s Report – Larry Stoodt

7:43 – 7:45 Acceptance of Minutes – Doug Lawrence

7:45 – 8:10 Reports from City Council, School Committee and Mayor

8:10 – 8:25 Report from our Legislative Delegation

8:25 – 8:40 November elections – What YOU can do here and elsewhere

8:40 – 8:55 Subcommittee discussions and upcoming actions for the year:

 

 Bylaws – Mel Warshaw

 Communications – Jim Hansen

 Civic Education – Beverly Hugo

 Environmental – Larry Stoodt

 Legislative Subcommittee – Barbara LeDuc

 Outreach – Parwez Wahid

 Programming – Rosamond Hooper-Hamersley & Cesar Stewart-Morales

 

8:50 – 9:00 New Business, member announcements, general announcements for the good of the order

9:00 Adjourn

 

Meeting called to order at 7:04PM

 

Welcome, Announcements and Updates – Chair Mike Hugo (5 min)

Mike kicked off the meeting at 7:04.

 

Presentation by Framingham Families for Racial Equity in Education (FFREE) –Menakshi Verma Agrawal

Taking on structural racism, she sees it firsthand as she has 3 children in Framingham Public Schools.   Lack of teachers of color in the district.   Stated policy to not compromise qualifications for race.  4 major platforms:

  • Curriculum and instruction is still very Euro-centric view
  • Focus on professional development, hiring diverse and different staff
  • Hiring and retention of teachers and administration of color
  • Policy and Procedures – remove school resource officers (police) from the district

Applying for 501c3 status, and can use volunteers to help advance the agenda.   Need board members, and people willing to attend School Committee and hold them accountable.

 (Read more…)