Framingham Rules Subcommittee Meeting – December 16, 2025
Framingham Rules Subcommittee Meeting – December 16, 2025
The Rules, Ordinance, and Ethics Subcommittee of the Framingham City Council met on December 16, 2025, with a full quorum (Chair Philip Ataviani, Councilor Christine Long, and Councilor Bryant). The agenda included approval of previous meeting minutes, a referral on noise pollution, and the main discussion: Order 2025-083 regarding a proposed Framingham Trust and Local Law Enforcement Ordinance. Public participation drew no comments on non‑agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- Meeting Minutes: The subcommittee unanimously approved draft minutes from May 5, 2025 and May 27, 2025.
Discussion Items
- Order 2025-083 – Welcoming Ordinance / Trust and Local Law Enforcement Ordinance Draft: The subcommittee discussed Councilor Ward’s proposed ordinance, which would add reporting requirements and clarify that Framingham Police do not assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) beyond legal obligations. Councilor Ward was absent (watching the meeting remotely but unable to log in). Chair Ataviani and Councilor Long noted that the existing Welcoming Ordinance already states the city’s position and that police have confirmed they do not participate with ICE. Chair Ataviani read a news article about an ICE operation in May 2025 that arrested 1,461 individuals, of whom 791 had criminal convictions; he expressed concern about the 670 people arrested without criminal records and suggested the new ordinance might provide useful clarity. A public commenter from District 7 pointed out that the draft ordinance includes reporting requirements not present in the Welcoming Ordinance, supporting it for greater transparency. The subcommittee could not take final action because Councilor Ward was not present.
Key Outcomes
- Order 2025-083 (Continuation): The subcommittee voted unanimously (3‑0) to recommend to the full City Council that the ordinance be held over to the next subcommittee session, allowing Councilor Ward to explain his proposal. The issue may also be discussed at the next City Council meeting.
- Order 2025-076 (Noise Ordinance Referral): The subcommittee unanimously (3‑0) voted to duplicate the recommendation of the Public Health, Safety, and Transportation Subcommittee, referring discussion of air and noise pollution in the current noise ordinance to both that subcommittee and the Rules Subcommittee.
- The meeting adjourned unanimously following a motion by Councilor Long.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. The 6 30 meeting of the rules ordinance and ethics subcommittee of the Framingham Council is in session now. In attendance, we have full quorum. Chair of the city council, Philip Ataviani. Indicate your present. Yes, here. Okay. Chris Christine Long. Yes. And Councilor Bryant. Yes. Okay. So tonight's agenda is called to order, which we've done public participation. I'm going to save minutes for last if we have time for them because they were anyway. I'm going to save those for last. And we have one item on the agenda, Order 2025-083. Madam Chair, you're gonna can I interrupt one second? You're gonna want to do those minutes because I don't think we meet again, right? Until next year. Okay, we want to wrap up this session and do that eventually. Thank you. Okay, thank you. All right, we'll hurry up and do the minutes right after public participation. Uh public participation is for I'm gonna give each person one minute, and it's only for I um for discussion that is not on the agenda. Is there anyone for public have has any public comments that is not on the agenda? I don't see any hands, so we will go right into the um the meeting minutes. Let me make sure. Yes. So uh meeting minutes, uh draft meeting minutes five May 5th, 2025, and draft meeting minutes five, 2725. Um can I get a motion to approve both? Um motion approved, second. All right, all in favor, counselor um Ataviani. Yes, Councilor Long? Yes, Councilor Bryant, yes. Unanimously approved. All right, on to the agenda item for which everyone is here. Okay. So uh order 2025-083 upon request of counselor ward, a discussion regarding the welcoming ordinance and referral to the rules ordinance and ethics subcommittee consideration of the matter. Um, so actually, oh wait, first we're gonna take the other one in um order. Uh, we're gonna do number two first. Order 2025-076, uh request of the chair, a referral to the public health safety and transportation subcommittee and the rules ordinance and ethics subcommittee discussion of air and noise pollution in the current noise ordinance. Uh, can I get a motion to duplicate uh uh the recommendation of the public health safety and transportation subcommittee? So moved. Yep, second. All in favor, council Aviani. Yes. Councillor Long. Yes. Council Bryant, yes. Um, unanimous.
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