Framingham Mayor Declares A State of Emergency

The following is a press release from the City of Framingham.

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FRAMINGHAM – Today, March 22, Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer issued a Declaration of Local State of Emergency for Framingham to help City officials most effectively address the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Declaration of Emergency is retroactive to March 10, 2020, the date of Governor Baker’s declaration of a State of Emergency within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is attached here. Pursuant to
the authority vested in her by Art. III, Section 2 of the Framingham Home Rule Charter and her general implied powers as Mayor to manage and deploy City personnel and resources to protect and help Framingham residents during a state of emergency, the Mayor has determined that the COVID-19 Pandemic poses a clear and present danger to public health, safety and the general welfare of the people of Framingham that necessitates a declaration of a local state of emergency.

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This Declaration of Emergency authorizes City personnel and agents to take all those actions necessary and appropriate to respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Mayor determined that this Declaration of Emergency was necessary after review and due consideration of the numerous orders, findings and
actions made at the state and federal level, and after consultation with Director of Public Health Dr. Sam Wong, Police Chief and Emergency Management Director Steven Trask, City Solicitor Christopher J. Petrini,
other Division Heads, and the City Council leadership, and other Mayors across the Commonwealth.

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“Declaration of a local state of emergency provides City leadership and public health and safety personnel with another tool to help the City manage and respond to the broad impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic
in Framingham, and facilitates the efforts of the Public Health Director and Emergency Management Director to efficiently and effectively manage and deploy resources within the City and coordinate services, equipment, supplies and facilities offered by state and federal officials,” said Mayor
Spicer. “Critically, this declaration of emergency places the City in a better position to promptly access and fully secure all available state and federal funding that may be available now or in the future to help pay for the costs of Framingham’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, including FEMA funding.”

As part of its due diligence, the City considered the advice and recommendations of state and local officials across the country experienced in seeking FEMA aid. The consensus was that cities should declare a local
state of emergency when warranted by the facts to increase the likelihood of prompt review and approval of FEMA aid applications.

“I want to be clear; this Declaration of Emergency is not a shelter in place order,” said Mayor Spicer. “The City will rely on the determination of Governor Baker as to whether to declare a shelter in place order, as
such orders are effective only if they are implemented and enforced on a statewide or regional basis rather than a community by community basis.”

The Declaration of Local State of Emergency will remain in effect until notice is given by the Mayor that the Declaration of Emergency is rescinded.