Laurie Lee Candidate for Framingham Selectman Position on Neighborhoods and Schools

The distinct character of our neighborhoods is a vital part of Framingham’s heritage.

Protecting and promoting our neighborhoods has been a priority of mine for many years. I have supported neighborhoods and neighborhood groups all over town, on issues as varied as social services, cell towers, cement plants and 40B projects. As a Town Meeting Member, I have supported the right to participate in local affairs, to petition our government, to discuss relevant issues and to form neighborhood groups.

As a town Meeting Member and member of the Advisory Committee on Housing I represented neighborhood concerns when I participated in the research and writing of our newly adopted Housing Plan and Policy.

As a member of Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) I have continued my work with the Planning Board to ensure that neighborhood representation is in our Master Plan, as it is in our Housing Plan. I believe we can protect our neighborhoods and their unique identities while encouraging economic development through accountability, communication and transparency. This will benefit our families, individuals, businesses and our town.

EDIC recently discussed a PR campaign that I drew up, that features our neighborhoods and schools and promotes Framingham as “The 21^st Century place to Work, Live, Learn and Play”. The draft version of this campaign is available to view at: www.leesix.com. One of my goals is to work with local corporations encouraging their employees to choose Framingham as a place to live and educate their children. We are a prime location, with the infrastructure, opportunity, variety of lifestyle and services, to be the place to be in the 21^st Century. With the price of gas escalating and the need to reduce car emissions becoming more obvious, living, working, learning and playing one place will be a moving force for Framingham in the future.

Protecting and promoting our neighborhoods will help our Town keep our schools strong – a high priority for me. My children have benefited from our competitive yet nurturing school system. With a graduate from Keefe Tech and two from Framingham High School, I know first hand of the quality and breadth of the education provided from our excellent school system.

Framingham is lucky to have corporations such as Genzyme which partners with our schools, providing biotech and life science opportunities that are unique to Framingham. As a member of EDIC and as Selectman, fostering that relationship would be a high priority. We need to continue developing the public school programs and creativity

That has earned us state and national awards, including the Forbes top school award, and makes Framingham the place parents choose to live, work and educate their children.