[LWV] League of Women Voters®
of Framingham

Our Positions

Our League's positions on local issues

Positions Re-Affirmed at June 2002 Annual Meeting

PRESERVATION - We support:

  • The preservation of historic sites, monuments, buildings, grounds, roads and unique areas.
  • The preservation of open spaces for watershed protection and flood control, and the acquisition of suitable land for future town needs.
  • The use of certain criteria for the evaluation of zoning proposals which enhance and support the implementation of the above positions.

CONSERVATION - We support:
  • The acquisition of land to provide open space throughout the town with emphasis on areas which lack this type of land use.
  • We support acquisition of marginal land not well-suited for development.

PARKS and RECREATION - Recreational services are an essential response to social problems and a necessary component of a satisfactory quality of life. Therefore, we support:
  • The improvement and development of existing lands and recreational facilities, including the establishment of a central park in the Farm Pond - Cushing Hospital area.
  • The development of more parks and athletic fields to meet neighborhood needs.
  • The concept that the percentage share of the annual Town Budget allocated to Parks and Recreation be comparable to and maintained at the level of fiscal support established by communities of like size, population, and demographics.
  • Development of multi-use paths [biking, jogging, walking, etc.]; development of a network of paths to connect open-space areas throughout Framingham.
  • Development of innovative and comprehensive programs for active and passive recreation to accommodate demographic changes. We support the education of the public about this critical role, including the publication and wide distribution of Park and Recreation informational materials and other forms of publicity to achieve the highest visibility and maximum use of all facilities and programs.
  • The protection of conservation lands and preservation of open space, especially by the implementation of a comprehensive land plan which makes use of cluster residential development and other alternative zoning policies.
  • A land acquisition program that will increase the amount of land designated as recreation and open space, with particular attention to the acquisition of land in densely populated areas.

HOUSING - We support:
  • Measures to provide housing for all income levels in all areas of town.
  • Rehabilitation of present housing, and code enforcement, to keep older housing stock in use.
  • Contacting nearby communities to plan for housing needs through sub-regional cooperation.
  • Limited and carefully planned housing growth, especially in the form of 2, 3, and 4 unit housing.
  • We support cluster zoning as an alternative building choice.

COMMUNITY RESIDENCES - We support:
  • The right of community residences to exist in the community with specific qualifications, including: supervision of residents, adequate parking, regular maintenance, safety of property, and communication and education between the residence and the public.

PUBLIC HEALTH - We support:
  • A Department of Health with full-time qualified administrator and adequate staffing, enabling the department to assume responsibility for community health needs.
  • Cooperation and coordination between public and private health agencies.
  • Periodic re-evaluation of all town nursing services.
  • State legislation and funding to meet community health needs.

SCHOOL MEDICAL DEPARTMENT - We support:
  • Measures to recognize school nurses in a supervisory role; to implement a plan for emergency care; to improve physical examinations procedures; and to educate the community about the services of the school medical department.

SCHOOL TRAVEL SAFETY - We support:
  • Measures to improve school bus safety, student walking safety, and school travel safety education.

SCHOOL PUPIL PERSONNEL - We support:
  • Measures to better inform parents of the services available both within the school system and through outside agencies.
  • Improved communication between and among parents, counselors, other support personnel and administrators.
  • Increased frequency of contact between students and counselors at all levels.
  • Standardization of the supervision and evaluation of counselors.
  • Confidentiality of non-academic data on the records.

TOWN GOVERNMENT - We support:
  • A strong centralized authority for the administrative branch of town government, with lines of responsibility clearly defined.
  • Broad citizen participation and representation in the legislative branch.

ACCOUNTABILITY OF TOWN MEETING MEMBERS - We support:
  • A record of attendance
  • A record of votes
  • Consideration by Town Meeting Members of input from their constituents.

SIGN CONTROL - We support:
  • Town regulation of signs to ensure traffic safety and to maintain a pleasant environment.

TOWN FINANCE - We support:
  • Overrides of Proposition 2 1/2 when Town services, especially human services and/or services included in the League's support positions, are seriously threatened.

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