I have been a Framingham Town Meeting Member and Chair of Precinct 15 since 2013. I have held joint meetings in my home for Precincts 15, 16, 17 and 18. I have also invited sponsors for various articles such as the Plastic Bag Ban and Zoning By-law changes
My Experience in Framingham Government
I serve as Clerk of the Standing Committee on Ways & Means.
I am also a member of the Standing Committee on Rules and have served on the Standing Committees on Community Services and Planning and Zoning.
My first initiative after becoming a Town Meeting Member was to improve recreation at Mary Dennison Park located in Precinct 17, an environmental justice neighborhood of over 1,800 children. I soon learned of their desire for a skatepark and of the 2 failed attempts to build one since 2002. In 2013 along with 10 skateboarders, I created the Framingham Skatepark Committee, held an informational meeting at the Library and a Skate Jam. I mentored 7 of our skateboarders and brought them to speak at a Board of Selectmen Meeting on March 17, 2015. (Please watch the video on this page. We should all be proud of these kids!) At the Spring 2015 Town Meeting I presented a Citizen's Petition to build a skatepark. It passed with near unanimous approval and after 2 more years of meetings and planning workshops, work will begin in September on a Farm Pond site where we held our first meeting.
After learning of widespread issue of pollution in our community, I
co-founded S.T.O.P. (Stop Toxic Operations and Polluters) with Precinct 16 Town Meeting Member, Ronda Andrews. We have held three demonstrations at one of the most egregiously polluted sites.
I have devoted considerable time and energy to issues of importance in our community and speak out on these them at Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board and Board of Health Meetings.
While working on these issues, I acquired a working knowledge of many Framingham Departments: Assessor, Board of Health, Conservation, DPW, Fire, Inspectional Services, Parks, Police, Planning Board, and ZBA. This gives me the necessary background to fulfill the primary responsibilities of a Council Member to vote on the budget, department and committee appointments, and zoning bylaws.
Judith Grove speaking before the Charter Commission, 2016
Framingham youth advocating for a skatepark during public participation at a Board of Selectmen Meeting on March 17, 2015
One of many joint Precinct Meetings held at my home
Judith with Joel Winett, Chair of Rules Committee
Skateboarders speak at the Board of Selectmen Meeting
on March 17, 2015
Judy Grove has attended and voiced her opinions at every skatepark meeting. On August 27, 2016, members of the Skatepark Advisory Committee met to discuss possible skatepark locations. Seated (beginning on left) is Thomas Bubier, Rob MacArthur, James McCarthy and Judith Grove. Photo courtesy of Framingham Patch.