Act of 1949 -
Representative Town Meeting

Act of Incorporation

CFO Act of 1996

Precinct Information

Town Bylaws

Town Manager Act of 1996

Town Meeting Members

Town Meeting Handbook

Zoning Bylaws

Framingham was incorporated as a Town on June 25, 1700.   Chapter 143 of the Acts of 1949 established the Town of Framingham Representative Town Government by Limited Town Meetings.  The Town Manager Act of 1996 increased the number of Selectmen from 3 to 5 and changed the Board of Public Works, the Board of Health, and the Park and Recreation Commission from being elected to being appointed by the Board of Selectmen.  Also in the Acts of 1996, Chapter 418 created the position of Chief Financial Officer.

The Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager form the executive branch of the town, with the Town Meeting serving as the legislative branch.  At nearly 69,000 inhabitants, Framingham is the largest Town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Town is divided into eighteen Precincts , defined by Chapter 488 of the Acts of 1976.  There are twelve Town Meeting Members representing each precinct.  The Members serve for three year terms, four being elected by the voters each year.  This differs from an Open Town Meeting form of government where any resident can vote at the Town Meeting.

Town meeting meets annually in April and May and during the year whenever a Special Town Meeting is called.  Special Town Meetings are either called by vote of the Selectmen or by a petition signed by 200 residents.  Town Meetings are presided over by a Moderator elected by the voters for a one year term. 

There are seven Standing Committees of the Town Meeting:

Community Services, Education, Planning and Zoning, Public Safety, Public Works, Ways and Means, and Rules.

Each Standing Committee consists of 18 members, one person from each precinct elected annually by the Town Meeting Members from each precinct.

A Standing Committee is responsible for informing itself of the activities of various governmental units as defined in the Town bylaws and for the activities indicated by the names of the Committee.  Standing Committees report to Town Meeting on those activities and upon the merits of Warrant Articles relating to those activities.

The Town Meeting Member Handbook, prepared by the Standing Committee on Rules, provides a summary of and introduction to the procedures of a working Town Meeting.

The Town Bylaws (passed by Town Meeting by a majority vote) and Zoning Bylaws (passed by Town Meeting by a two-third vote) define the laws of the Town and are available on the Town web site.  The Board of Selectmen is responsible for developing and implementing town wide policies.  These too are available on the Town web site.

Prepared by the Government Study Committee