Politics & Government

In Memo, Framingham Mayor Objects To Budget Hearings Ordinance

But Mayor Yvonne Spicer is not vetoing the new ordinance, instead saying she will "work in good faith" with Councilors on the idea.

Mayor Yvonne Spicer on Wednesday voiced her displeasure with a new Council ordinance requiring quarterly budget hearings.
Mayor Yvonne Spicer on Wednesday voiced her displeasure with a new Council ordinance requiring quarterly budget hearings. (Neal McNamara/Patch)

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Mayor Yvonne Spicer is not vetoing a new ordinance requiring her administration hold four budget hearings with City Councilors each year — but she is expressing sharp disagreement with it.

In a signing statement sent to Councilors Wednesday, Spicer said the requirements are "arcane" and remind her of the "cumbersome reporting requirements" that existed before Framingham became a city.

"I believe the Council’s intentions here are in the right place," Spicer said in the signing statement. "For that reason, I have decided not to veto the order, and my administration will work in good faith with the Council on the forum concept set forth in this ordinance and will comply with it to the extent feasible and permissible under the charter."

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The ordinance was originally proposed this winter by District 8 Councilor John Stefanini to "dramatically improve communication between Mayor Spicer, the Council and Councilors." Councilors have expressed frustration getting information about the budget from Spicer's cabinet, in particular around the solution to a deficit in the water and sewer fund.

After hearings in the Council's Finance Subcommittee, the Council passed the new budget hearing ordinance unanimously on March 16. It lays out four hearings throughout the year: In March reviewing actual year-to-date revenue and projections; in April on the "efficacy and efficiency" of budget appropriations for the current and nine preceding budget years; in November on the "condition, utility and need of all municipal assets"; and in August covering monthly allotments and department performance.

Find out what's happening in Framinghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here's Spicer's full signing statement on the new ordinance:

Framingham budget ordinance signing statement by Neal McNamara on Scribd


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