Framingham resident Steven Haker made good on his stated intent to submit a petition to the Selectmen to call a Special Town Meeting to hear two resolutions.  The first resolution would direct the Selectmen to write to state and Federal legislators asking for legislation that would end unfunded mandates on local government.  A second resolution ask for legislation to require all pesticdes used by citizens, landscape firms, and utilities to be approved by local boards of health after a public hearing.  Currently, pesticides and herbicides are regulated by the state.

Mr. Haker has previously submitted petitions to Framingham and Sudbury officials.  This is the third such petitioned article on Federal mandates filed in Framingham in the past five years.  Mr. Haker is a candidate for the state House seat currently held by State Rep. Thomas Conroy of Wayland, whose district now covers parts of Marlborough Framingham, three of four voting precints in Wayland, and all of Sudbury.

By state law, Selectmen must open the Special Town Meeting Warrant for at least 7 days and schedule the town meeting to begin within 45 days of the filing of the petition.  Wayland Selectmen will meet on Monday, August 27 at 6:00 p.m. in the Selectmen's Meeting Room in Town Building to consider these issues.

The text of the proposed resolutions is as follows:

Article:

To see if the Towns of Framingham, Sudbury and Wayland will vote to request that their Federal and State Representatives and Senators file legislation that will require anyone including the Utilities to: only place on theirs and/or anyone else’s property chemicals approve by the Board of Health and/or the Towns Health Officer, but only after a public hearing and written approval from said authority to use such chemical. If any chemicals have been used in the past then the Utility or whoever placed said chemicals on any real estate property must clean up said site to the approval of the Board of Health and/or the Towns Health Officer.
Article:
To see if the Towns of Framingham, Sudbury and Wayland will vote to request that their Federal and State Representatives and Senators file legislation that will eliminate all unfunded State & Federal mandates. Further, the Town Meeting instructs the Moderator to notify all Massachusetts communities of Wayland’s action.

Fred Turkington
Town Administrator