Rep. Sannicandro Compares Framingham Town Meeting To A Group of 5th Graders

Framingham State Representative Tom Sannicandro compared Framingham’s Town Meeting form of government to a bunch of 5th graders.

Speaking at his alma mater Saint Bridget School Wednesday morning, as part of National Catholic Schools Week, the Ashland Democrat, who represents one-third of Framingham 18 precincts in the State House said ”Town Meeting needs to go.”

When asked by a student during a Q&A session on whether he favors Framingham be a town or a city form of government, the state representative said it is time for “Framingham to become a city.”

In making an analogy for the students assembled, he asked the fifth graders to stand up. He told the audience, that Town Meeting is those fifth graders, and they get to decide the rules for everyone at the school. He said that is not fair, and it was time for Framingham to eliminate Town Meeting and become a city.

This is the first time the state representative has weighed in on the city vs town question.

Editor’s Note: Attached to this report is a video clip of Sannicandro at the Saint Bridget School assembly.

Sannicandro announced he would not seek re-election for his seat in November, after a decade at the State House.

Framingham voters will decide on March 29 if they want to study the current form of government in Framingham and possibly makes changes. Voters will be asked to create a Charter Commission.

The question is on the ballot after an organization names Framingham First gathered more than 6,000 signatures of registered voters. That group would like to see Framingham’s Town form of government change.

If voters say yes to a Charter Commission, they also will elect 9 Commissioners, who will study Framingham’s form of government and then make recommendations for possibly changes to voters.