PHOTOS: Gov. Healey & Lt. Gov. Driscoll Thank Framingham DPW Workers For Their Efforts Day In and Day Out

Share, email, print, bookmark SOURCE reports.

[broadstreet zone=”59946″]

FRAMINGHAM – Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll toured Framingham DPW HQ Wednesday afternoon.

It was their first visit to the City of Framingham since they took office.

Earlier in the morning, they were at MEMA HQ on Route 9 in Framingham for a winter and emergency preparedness briefing from representatives of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

After the MEMA stop, they arrived at Framingham DPW HQ on Western Avenue with Senate President Karen Spilka, who was celebrating a birthday today. The Governor wished her happy birthday.

The Framingham visit was was to tour the facility and thank DPW workers for what they do during winter storms.

City of Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and First Lady Robin Kaye greeted Gov. Healey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll.

DPW Director Bob Lewis and Highway Director Kate Ronconi, the first woman to ever hold that position in Framingham, met with the Governor and Lt. Governor and other DPW employees.

[broadstreet zone=”58610″]

City Council Chair Phil Ottaviani Jr., City Council Vice Chair Janet Leombruno, and City Councilors Michael Cannon, John Stefanini, and Noval Alexander were also in attendance. State Representatives Jack Patrick Lewis, Priscila Sousa, and Kate Donaghue also attended the event

Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker and Framingham Planning Director Sarky Sarkisian also attended the event.

“You both have been here before, in other capacities, but as Lieutenant Governor and Governor, we’re so happy to welcome you today. We look forward to the next four years. So many exciting things going on here(in Framingham),” said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky, who got some one-on-one time with the the two leaders of the Commonwealth.

Lt. Governor Driscoll, said as a former mayor, she is “grateful for all the work that our local officials do. Most of our roads are local roads. That means local DPW officials, drivers, staff who order the salt, fix the machines, employees who do that work every day to make sure that we can continue offering local services we need to during the winter.”

“I’ve never been in such a clean DPW facility,” Lt. Gov. Driscoll said the DPW garage on Western Avenue.

[broadstreet zone=”59947″]

“This is about the partnership we want to have with local government and state resources and state government,” said Lt. Gov. Driscoll. “We know it’s important that we have a symbiotic relationship. For our state to be doing well, we need our cities and towns to be doing well. And a big part of that is making sure we can deliver these basic services that so many people rely on.”

“We’re grateful to be here and have a lot of gratitude for the work you do, not just today, but every day. And pleased to be joined by Governor Healey in this effort and so grateful we were able to spend some time with you today,” said Lt. Gov. Driscoll.

“Lieutenant Governor and I were earlier today at the bunker getting the briefing on emergency preparedness. We wanted to make a point to coming here in Framingham, in particular, I appreciate the invitation from the Mayor because we know that everything starts and ends at the local level when it comes to a storm or anything else,” said Gov. Healey speaking at the Framingham DPW garage on Western Avenue. “The state’s responsibility is to be a great partner and a great support. So we’re here today in that spirit.”

“To the workers all of you, thank you so much for the work that you do day in and day out. On behalf of our communities. We can’t do this work without you and so many people count on you. And also these are really hard jobs. One thing we know across the state, we’ve had a shortage of workers right now,” said Gov. Healey, who said that workforce shortage is something her administration is committed to working on.

The Governor mentioned the fact that her administration announced a Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development earlier in the day, and that she will be attacking the workforce shortage issue.

The Governor also joked that maybe Lt. Gov. Driscoll might want to drive one of the trucks in the garage, before they left Framingham DPW.

[broadstreet zone=”59983″]