Framingham City Council Meeting - November 19, 2025: Specialized Building Code, Immigration Policy, and Appointments
Framingham City Council Meeting - November 19, 2025
The Framingham City Council held a regular meeting on November 18, 2025 (transcript timestamped November 19), covering a wide range of topics including public participation, proclamations, the mayor's report, a public hearing on the opt-in specialized building code, a detailed discussion on immigration enforcement policies with the police department, and numerous appointments. Key votes included closing the public hearing on the specialized code and postponing the final vote, approving an amendment to increase the special permit threshold for large developments, and advancing several appointments.
Consent Calendar
- Order 2025-072: Verizon utility pole work on Edmonds Road – approved unanimously.
- Order 2025-082: Eversource gas main work – continued due to absence.
- Order 2025-07301: Bond authorization for Hemingway School feasibility study ($2.6 million) – approved unanimously.
- Order 2025-07301 (second): Transfer of $30,000 from handicap fines to Disability Commission plus $5,000 for accessible boat dock – approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Corey Spaulding (230 Prospect Street): Alleged ongoing criminal conspiracy of municipal fraud and corruption involving city council, mayor, and school committee. Claimed retaliation against family and child. Urged council to place matter on agenda and include evidence in meeting documents.
- Christopher Lennon: Argued that federal funds for war preparation do not enhance Framingham security. Called for council to send a statement opposing wars of choice to the congressional representative.
- Sarah McKeown (Framingham resident and teacher): Requested council publicly support immigrant community, citing ICE activity. Described community standouts and urged leaders to use their voices to protect vulnerable residents.
- Rosie Stoat: Urged passage of the specialized building code, citing climate urgency.
- Mr. Lawrence: Supported the code, noting that 19 other municipalities have achieved Climate Leader designation and that the code provides consumer protection and health benefits.
- Nancy Fleesler: Detailed the history of code discussion in Framingham, stating buildings account for 70% of carbon emissions. Claimed specialized code communities permitted 22% more housing units after adoption.
- Larry Stowe: Congratulated re-elected council members, highlighted previous sustainability achievements (municipal aggregation, geothermal network), and urged adoption of the code to complete Climate Leader requirements.
- Tim Brainerd: Expressed support for the code, noting it would attract homebuyers.
- Aaron Ellsworth (Sustainability Committee Chair): Cited cost data (1-3% for homes, 0-2% for commercial), rebutted concerns about following other communities, and argued the council should shape future building policy.
- Doug Stefan (Eastleigh Farm, EDC member): Asked the council to wait and see experiences of other cities. Estimated $25,000-$40,000 per unit additional cost under new stretch code.
- Amy Puelka (Energize Framingham): Reported that 97% of recent building permits in Massachusetts use electric heat, and 93% of multifamily homes are permitted as passive house.
- Mark Sandine (Lexington Select Board): Described Lexington's success with affordable housing under the specialized code, noting zero-energy heating costs for residents.
- Sarah McKeown (second time): Asked about police assistance to ICE; thanked Deputy Chief for presentation but stressed optics and fear in community.
- Samantha McGarry: Asked if FPD provides traffic escorts for ICE; Deputy Chief said no.
- Kate Maridotula: Questioned how criminality is determined when ICE requests assistance; Deputy Chief explained they ask the basis of the warrant.
- Pat Kreisek (District 7): Opposed MCI Framingham prison reconstruction, citing cost and asbestos concerns.
- Lori Lordana Leonard (address given): Opposed prison project, highlighted pollution risks.
- Melina List (District 4): Asked for transparency regarding ICE activities and information sharing; later urged council to listen to incarcerated women.
Discussion Items
- Mayor's Report: Outlined charter change requirements (budget timeline moved up to March 1, 2026; joint revenue forecast meeting before year-end). Announced lifeguard staffing plan (public-private approach) and state legislation to transfer old courthouse to city. Moody's bond rating meeting positive.
- Specialized Building Code (Order 2025-06501): Extensive public hearing continued from October 20. After public testimony, council debated. Councilors Long, Cannon, and King expressed concerns about costs, premature adoption, and lack of builder input. Councilors Bryant, White-Havey, Ward, Alexander, and Steiner supported adoption. Motion to close public hearing passed 9-2. Motion to adopt the code (with July 1, 2026 effective date) was made by Councilor Steiner. Councilor Cannon invoked Charter Section 9B to postpone the vote to the next meeting (December 2, 2025). The public hearing is closed, but no final vote was taken.
- Police Discussion on Immigration: Deputy Chief Sean Riley presented the Framingham Police Department's policies and MOUs with federal agencies, emphasizing that local officers do not enforce civil immigration law per the Lund decision. He explained the Secure Communities program and the process when ICE detainers are issued. Council and public questions clarified that FPD does not participate in ICE enforcement but may assist in emergencies involving criminal warrants. Several residents expressed concern about ICE activities and lack of recourse. The council referred a proposed welcoming ordinance to the Rules, Ordinances, and Ethics Subcommittee.
- Zoning Special Permit Granting Authority (Order 2025-063): Council voted 9-1 to amend the threshold to 125,000 square feet. After further discussion, Councilor Bryant invoked Charter Section 9B to postpone the vote on the main motion (to make city council the SPGA) to the next meeting.
- MCI Framingham: Councilor Ottaviani updated on state plans for a $350 million prison renovation. Councilor Ward criticized lack of community input. Several public comments opposed the project.
- Meeting Calendar: Tabled after Councilor Cannon requested input from incoming council members.
Key Outcomes
- Public hearing on specialized building code closed (9-2). Final vote postponed to December 2, 2025 after single-member objection.
- Amendment to increase special permit threshold to 125,000 sq ft approved (9-1). Main vote postponed to next meeting.
- Bond authorization for Hemingway School feasibility study approved (unanimous).
- Transfer of $35,000 to Disability Commission approved (unanimous).
- Appointments approved: Diane Soulliere (Agricultural Advisory), John Van Alston (Bicycle/Pedestrian Trails), Megan Tolen (Board of Assessors), Michael Cunningham (Cable Advisory), Christine Conn (Accessory Board?), Eric Finn (Elderly/Disabled Tax Fund), Greg Hayes (Human Relations), Andrew Kalazny (Fair Housing), Luther Evans (South Middlesex Vocational), Bruce Webster/Maria Robinson (Registers of Voters), Samuel Doyle/Rachel Zarriff (Sustainability Committee), three members of Women Children and Families Commission, and Ron Parker (ZBA Associate). Votes ranged from unanimous to 8-2 or 8-1.
- Welcoming ordinance referred to Rules, Ordinances, and Ethics Subcommittee.
- Mayor's referrals (capital improvement plan, school bus lease, affordable housing funds, multiple appointments) referred to respective subcommittees.
- Meeting calendar tabled to next meeting.
Next Steps
- Council will reconvene on December 2, 2025, with the specialized building code vote as first order of business, followed by the zoning SPGA vote.
- Council will seek state officials to discuss MCI Framingham plans.
- Appointments and referrals will proceed through subcommittees.
Meeting Transcript
The City Council is the sole legislative body of the city of Framingham and is therefore responsible for passing city ordinances. The City Council is made up of 11 members who exercise the legislative powers of Framingham. Two of these members are known as counselors at large, and nine members are known as district counselors. The city council serves as a link between the citizens of Framingham and their municipal government. Counselors help constituents by connecting them to resources, services, and city departments, and also serve as advocates for all Framingham residents. The following City Council coverage is brought to you by the Government Channel, a service of the City of Framingham. Tonight we're on agenda the revised third version for November 18th, 2025 in the Blum Memorial Building 150 Conx Street Framing Mass. First order of business is public participation. Anybody that signed up for public competition. Anybody that signed up for a public participation, as long as it is something that is not on our agenda, we will call on you. The first speaker is Corey Spaulding. Everybody gets three minutes. Name and address for the record. Thank you. It's on. Okay. Corey Spaulding, 230 Prospect Street. As you know, I am recording. As you know, I'm an accidental whistleblower who has evidence of an ongoing criminal conspiracy of municipal fraud and corruption involving the city council, the mayor, as well as the school committee. The fraud involves federal uh elected officials intentionally procuring and misusing federal grants and insurance fraud to offset budget deficits caused by fraud, embezzlement, legal settlements, liabilities, etc. My family continues to be retaliated against city officials. You have enlisted my neighbors to harass my child and I. She's been diagnosed with severe PTSD, agoraphobia, mutism, and eating disorder, etc. My child has never been allowed to finish her schooling. She's never graduated. What becomes of her? Last week I posted on Tracy Bryant's Facebook about this ongoing matter, which she responded, quote, I knew none of this, Corey, the retaliation being taken to court, bogus permit payoffs, and that Maya's daughter-in-law, Jennifer Stark, judge hearing your case. I don't know if a current case, court case, can be put on our agenda. And if what you say is true, the city administration would not want this discussed in a public meeting. I'll research it. I hate corruption. It's an enemy of democracy. Unquote. As you're aware, Miss Bryant did not follow up with me, so I sent all of you the factual evidence that supports the criminal conspiracy of fraud, civil rights violations, and obstruction of justice, which you were already aware of. It's simply not plausible that Ms. Bryant didn't know. And this is a public trust issue. We repeatedly asked to be placed on an agenda per First Amendment rights prior to filing any lawsuit. You either ignored us or had your attorney respond. The public has a right to know if their elected officials are corrupt. They have a right to the factual evidence and allow for a public discussion, not public comment. As you know, I have been in contact by the I have been contacted by the U.S. Attorney General's office and asked to forward the evidence to the FBI. What happened to my child? 15 seconds, Miss Smaller. My family will happen to any other citizen of Framingham who questions your fiduciary duty. Please put this matter on an upcoming agenda, or at least include the factual evidence that you have sent to you via email in tonight's meeting documents. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, Christopher Lennon.
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