Watch your step
August 22nd, 2008
Last May I was all excited at Town Meeting that we approved funds for repairing the crumbling steps in front of Town Hall/Memorial Building. As the months went by I figured there must be some plan in action but then a whole year went by and still here in August 08 nothing seems to have changed except the arrangements of the cones and the deteriation of the steps.
I’m sure other people have noticed too since it is such a visable structure representing the town and they have done such a nice job with the landscaping and brickwork in front of the building, it’s a shame the steps remain neglected.
I went to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in December ‘06 where everyone crowded around on the frontsteps and people had to watch where they were standing and make sure they weren’t on a piece of crumble. I can’t imagine the challenge of what that was like last year or what it will be like this year if they are still not repaired.
I’m starting to investigate and will post any information about progress on this I can find out if anyone is interested.
Those steps were crumbling in 1991, too. I remember walking down to town hall after a school dance at Marian; my girlfriend and I each took small pieces of step and joked about how it was like the Berlin Wall falling down.
God, that was a long, long time ago. Have the steps just been crumbling since then?
Comment by Flamingspam — August 22, 2008 @ 10:30 am
I always use the side entrance, but that is just a shame. The town should really take a little more pride in its landmarks.
Comment by Krista — August 22, 2008 @ 1:53 pm
Though Framingham clearly has lots of expensive projects in line to keep Town infrastructure sound, you’d think the powers that be could allot a few thousand bucks to keep the Town Hall’s stairs not only safe but good looking.
Boy, talk about losing sight of basic pride and PR!
Who’s in charge here…!
Comment by Matt — August 22, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
I’ll be curious what you find out. There are many reasons a project like this could be delayed - some legitimate (but annoying) and some otherwise. Government is rarely as simple as a home repair.
Depending on the scope of the project (just stairs or part of something larger) it could require a complicated bid process. Maybe they did that but the bids came in too high, and they had to refine the project. If the building is on a historical register, even the silliest of repairs can drag on through permitting from those who’ve never set foot in the town. They could have hired someone who backed out, or maybe a losing bidder is contesting the bid process. I don’t know if this was a distinct article, or just funding within a DPW line item. That could play a role. All just guessing.
I suspect it’s something the Town Manager gets a lot of grief over thus wouldn’t have pushed it to the back burner (not that I know your Town manager!). The good thing is everything is in the public record, so it shouldn’t be terribly hard to get the scoop.
Comment by Mitch Cohen — August 22, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
the stairs are a good example of a town, downtown and its infrastructure that are crumbling ! Framingham is a city and should be run with a city government. Downtown is a disgrace and a reflection of years of neglect by its inefficient town meeting form of government,poor planning / zoning.
Time to get rid of that old school of thought that concord street and waverly street are main street Mayberry. I dont think Mayberry had drug pushers, addicts and hookers and a population that didnt speak English.
Comment by frank — August 24, 2008 @ 5:59 pm