SMOC is in the process of purchasing the Framingham Nursing Home at 517 Winter St. The most likely use would be for a family shelter. We as neighbors are concerned as to what impact this will have on our families. SMOC housing attracts people from the other communities to Framingham, and then Framingham taxpayers become responsible for educating these children. I imagine their school transportation fees will be waived as well. Not to mention the taxable income on a two million dollar property that Framingham will lose.
Framingham residents should have a voice in approval of non-profit organizations' purchases and uses of properties in our town. We should have the ability to decide what non-profits we want to support as taxpayers. We should be able to say Framingham already has enough properties that aren't paying taxes.
We are educating enough children at $7,000 to $8,000 per child a year. We don't need to import more charity cases into Framingham. We already do our share. In 2002, SMOC owned over 63 properties in Framingham, more than all the surrounding communities combined.
Some say that Framingham would not have a deficit if we collected taxes from all the non-profit properties in town. Non-profits need to inform the town before making any real estate purchases. WE should have the ability to say, yes, this is a good servicewe are willing to support, and the ability to say no.
MARY & DAVID WESTWATER
Framingham