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FRAMINGHAM – The City of Framingham issues just four COVID violation fines in 2021, during the first four months.
SOURCE media asked the City of Framingham for a list of all COVID gathering fines issued in 2021 through a public records request on April 28, The response was received today, May 12.
Two of the seven fines issued in 2021 were to individuals employed in the athletic department at Framingham High School.
One of the City’s health inspectors decided to fine both the Framingham High athletic director and the Framingham High boys ice hockey coach, based on a photo in a daily newspaper, which showed a couple of hockey players wearing no face covering on the ice minutes before the National Anthem was played at a game to honor seniors on the team.
The City issued no fines in February and March, and then issued three fines in April.
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The $300 fines to individuals Paul Spear and Will Ortiz were listed among the business fines. They were the only two individuals fined by the City during the pandemic. The fines were not issued to Framingham Public Schools but to the two individuals.
On April, the City issued a $300 fine to Andaman Thai Cuisine restaurant at 963 Worcester Road for $300.
The City of Framingham’s health department issued one COVID violation gathering fine on January 15, 2021.
The City of Framingham has issued no gathering fines since that that January 15 one.
The City began issuing COVID violation fines in September 2020.
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The City of Framingham issued its first fine on September 11 to Halstead apartments on Route 9, for a violation of the Governor’s COVID gathering orders. That fine has yet to be paid.
The second $500 fine was issued a couple of weeks later to the owner of Cotton Candy Party Production, after police were called to a Concord Street apartment building, where after-hour parties were taking place n the basement with DJ, alcohol, and few wearing masks.
The City said it has not been able to deliver the fine. A Public record request shows the City listed the fine as “undeliverable,” as of April 16.
The City has issued 27 total COVID gathering violation fines with only a handful paid.
The fines total about $39,000 but only about $7,500 has been paid.
The City began issuing COVID citations to businesses in May of 2020.
There have been 29 total fines, including the ones to Spear & Ortiz.
Less than a dozen have been paid.
MetroWest Medical Center