John Xenakis wrote that "Framingham officials are playing ostrich and continuing as if nothing is going on, perhaps believing that the Hand of God is going to reach down and reflate the housing bubble. Keeping neighborhoods from becoming blighted is essential, and requires as early a start as possible."

The housing bubble John discusses has had State, National and even world wide impact. Framingham is certainly being affected. While it is not clear how Framingham can address the issue in general, we can do things to help ourselves. Let me tell you what I have done, what the town is doing and what I will do as your Selectman.

The Community Development Block Grant Committee (CDBG), The Economic Development Corporation (EDIC) and the Building Department have been responding to the impacts on Framingham from blight and the recent rise in foreclosures.

At our January 22, 2008 CDBG meeting we reviewed past and future use of our federal CDBG and HOME grant funds slated for housing rehabilitation and home ownership programs.

At this meeting I suggested we direct some of these funds towards those at risk of foreclosure, who with a grant from us, could reduce or rewrite their mortgages and stay in their homes. We have the potential to help many families stay in their homes in Framingham. At the time we met, it was not clear whether HUD would allow such use. A subsequent letter from HUD confirmed they will approve using these funds for precisely this purpose.

The Board of Selectman, Town manager and our Planning Department have discussed this option and I believe are actively working on it.

At the April 2007 Town Meeting I defended using our CDBG funds for code enforcement to address blight and enforce our bylaws, and for neighborhood improvements. I showed how HUD recognizes these as the Best Practice Use of CDBG funds. I also showed how other communities are doing this and coordinating code enforcement efforts with data collection and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to follow the progress and track success of such programs.

At this time, I recommended using GIS mapping to both the Planning Department and the Building Department for tracking progress in code enforcement, home ownership and housing rehabilitation programs. I showed them that this step would be inexpensive and simple because the technology to do this was already available and being used in our Department of Public Works. This system has provided valuable data to DPW and would do the same for the Planning and Building Departments.

Over the past year Building Commissioner Foley has implemented the GIS system in his code enforcement effort as reported to the CDBG Committee in January. In a meeting with him last month, he told me that he also expanded the GIS program to track foreclosures, which he is monitoring for the safety and benefit of Framingham residents.

The Building Department is developing an outreach and education program for code enforcement which could include informing residents of the available support through the Town for homes at risk of foreclosure. In addition to this, I will recommend the Department partner with residents and others in the community, such as realtors, who may be aware of properties at risk before they are abandoned or lost.

Our Departments are aware of the plans and strategies in other communities and do communicate and collaborate with our neighbors. Worcester’s SAVE program is one good example of what other communities are doing. Boston is responding as well. The Boston City Council recently approved a new law regulating the maintenance of foreclosed and abandoned properties. Boston’s new law requires registration of foreclosed properties with relevant owner information and an annual fee. This type of action in Framingham would assist the Building department in all their efforts.

We can and we must find creative ways to assist Framingham homeowners; we can and we must find ways to put vacant properties back on the market; we can and we must actively work towards re-development; we can and we must develop and enforce our housing and building codes.

We can and must stand together to accomplish these goals.

As your Selectman I will be available full time to see that we continue these steps.

Laurie Lee