Framingham residents looking to change how town government operates are ramping up efforts this fall. The Framingham First group has launched a website, www.framinghamfirst.com , and is holding petition drives to collect signatures for a ballot question to create a charter commission. The commission would look at different forms of government, including whether the town should become a city. Supporters say a city form of government would be more transparent, less bureaucratic, and give Framingham a bigger voice at the state and federal levels. The group needs to collect signatures from 15 percent of the town's registered voters — about 5,000 people — and submit them to the town clerk's office 100 days before the March 29 election. An election for charter commission members would take place at the same time. The commission would study options for a government structure, get feedback from residents, and make recommendations to the town. Residents would vote on those recommendations at a subsequent town election.
Jennifer Fenn Lefferts can be reached at jflefferts@yahoo.com.
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