Framingham's City Hall, locally known as The Memorial Building, is located at the corner of Union Ave and Concord St.

FRAMINGHAM, MA - On November 06, 2019, Moody's Investors Service assigned a Aa2 rating, (also noted as "AA"), to the City of Framingham, MA's $27.5 million General Obligation Municipal Purpose Loan of 2019 Bonds.

The rating Aa2, is the third highest possible rating, (the best is "Aaa" or "AAA", followed by "Aa1" or "AA+", then the rating Framingham was assigned: "Aa2" or "AA").

Moody's maintains the Aa2 rating on the city's issuer rating and outstanding general obligation limited tax bonds. The issuer rating is equivalent to the city's hypothetical general obligation unlimited tax rating; there is no debt associated with this security. The outlook is stable.

The outstanding general obligation limited tax bonds (GOLT) are considered limited tax because the entire amount of debt service has not been excluded from restrictions under Massachusetts law on the city's ability to increase the property tax levy to pay debt service, referred to as Proposition 2 1/2.

RATINGS RATIONALE - The Aa2 issuer rating reflects the stable financial position, sizeable tax base with a large local economy, above-average but manageable debt burden, and average unfunded pension liability.

The absence of distinction between the GOLT rating and the issuer rating reflects the city's ability to override the property tax cap and its pledge of its full faith and credit.

RATING OUTLOOK - The stable outlook reflects the healthy growth in the tax base that is expected to continue over the near term as well as expectations that the city will maintain the current financial position with no material changes in reserves or liquidity.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE

• Material growth in reserves and liquidity
• Significant decline in the debt burden
• Sustained trend of higher resident income levels

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE

• Continued growth in the debt burden
• Decline in reserves and liquidity

LEGAL SECURITY - The bonds are secured by the city's full faith and credit, general obligation limited tax pledge as debt service has not been excluded from the tax levy limits of Proposition 2 1/2.

USE OF PROCEEDS - Proceeds will be used to finance various capital projects of the city.

PROFILE - Framingham has a population of 70,743 and is primarily residential with a large commercial presence. The city is located in Middlesex County, approximately 20 miles west of Boston.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.  Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.

(Nicholas Lehman, Lead Analyst, Regional PFG Northeast, Moody's Investors Service, Inc., One International Place, 100 Oliver St Suite 1400, Boston 02110, US)

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Plan ahead for delays and be prepared to stop as many Framingham roadway projects are being finished before winter sets in.

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Framingham Public Works Department has released the following list of scheduled construction and traffic alerts for the week of November 9th through the 16th, 2019. Please note, construction schedules are weather permitting and are subject to change.

Arlington Street Water Work, ­ Saturday, November 9, 2019, 8 AM ­ 4 PM -- the Water Division will install a new water service at the intersection of Arlington Street and Irving Street. Arlington Street (between Irving Street and South Street) will be closed to through traffic. A detour will be in effect. Please seek an alternate route.

Beacon Street & Summer Street, ­ Sidewalk & Road Improvements --- crews will continue to adjust driveway aprons and address punch-list items. A two-way and/or one-way alternating traffic pattern will be in effect, expect delays at times.

Beaver Street Bridge -- Utility companies will continue re-locating overhead wires on Beaver Street. Two-way and/or one-way alternating traffic pattern will be in effect. Expect minor delays.

Central Street (between Edgell Rd. and Purchase St.), Central Street Water & Sewer Design Project -- a city-hired contractor will continue conducting soil tests and surveying. A two-way and/or one-way alternating traffic pattern will be in effect, expect minor delays.

Garvey Road, Sewer Pump Station ­ Design Project -- a city-hired contractor will begin conducting soil tests and surveying. A two-way and/or one-way alternating traffic pattern will be in effect, expect minor delays.

Harrison Street, Gas Main Relay (Eversource Gas) -- Eversource Gas will continue installing gas main on Harrison Street. Expect minor delays.

Hollis Street (near a portion of Bates Rd. Ext. Thayer St. & Andrews St.), Hollis Street Water Main Project -- a city-hired contractor will continue installing water main. Expect minor interruptions at times.

"Hospital Streets", (­ Learned, Evergreen, Thurber, and Myrtle Streets), ­ Sidewalk & Road Improvements -- crews will continue to excavate, prep, and pour concrete sidewalks. Also, begin raising utility castings in preparation for final paving. A traffic management plan will be in effect. Emergency vehicles will have access at all times. Police details will be on-site to facilitate vehicle and pedestrian traffic, as well as hospital deliveries. Please seek an alternate route.

Jodie Road, Gas Main Relay (Eversource Gas) -- Eversource Gas will continue installing gas main on Jodie Road. A one-way alternating traffic pattern will be in effect. Expect minor delays at times.

Lincoln Street Gas Main Relay (Eversource Gas), Eversource Gas will continue installing gas main on Lincoln Street. A one-way alternating traffic pattern will be in effect. Expect delays at times.

Loker Street Gas Main Relay (Eversource Gas), Eversource Gas will continue installing gas main on Loker Street and Howe Street. A one-way alternating traffic pattern will be in effect. Expect minor delays at times.

Salem End Road,  Bridge Rehabilitation project --- Bridge rehabilitation continues. Expect minor delays.

Street Sweeping ­ Area B --- The Highway Division will street sweep Area B on Tuesday, November 12, 2019. NO PARKING will be allowed from 9 AM to Noon. Vehicles parked on the street will be ticketed and towed. The following streets will be swept during this operation: Avon Street, Bethany Road (#4-56), Bridges Street, Bridges Street Extension, Cedar Street, Charles Street, Claflin Street, Clifford Street, Coburn Street, Cypress Street, Hayes Street, Highland Street, Hilton Street, Mellon Street, Naples Street, Pine Street, Saucier Street, Waverly Court and Winthrop Street.

Union Ave. (Between Beech St. & Proctor St.) Utilities work -- a city-hired contractor will begin preparing the road for paving (between Beech Street and Proctor Street). Expect delays at times. Periodic closures of the following side streets may include: Henry St., Lexington St., Proctor St., Pearl St., Sanger St., and William Welch Way. Side street closures may be in effect during working hours, 7 AM ­ 3:30 PM. A detour on Union Ave. will be in effect. Please reference the detour information below.

Union Ave. Detour Information: Starting the week of November 11, 2019, the following detour plan will be in effect 24 hours a day, Monday ­ Friday.

• Union Ave. Southbound traffic will be detoured down Lincoln Street to Concord Street back onto Union Ave.
• Northbound travel only on Union between Proctor Street and Lincoln Street.

Worcester Road Eastbound (Route 9 East) -- Water & Sewer Improvements, Night work: Sunday (night) ­ Friday (morning), 9 PM to 5 AM, Crews will continue to install water and sewer main. Construction will occur between 328 to 150 Worcester Road. The right lane on Rt. 9 East will be closed to traffic during working hours. Please use caution if you are traveling through the area.

Worcester Road, near I-90, 9/90 Water Improvements ­ Design Project, Night work: Tuesday, 11/12/19 (night) ­ Wednesday, 11/13/19 (morning), 9 PM to 5 AM, If necessary, Wednesday, 11/13/19(night) ­ Thursday, 11/14/19 (morning), 9 PM to 5 AM, A city-hired contractor will conduct soil tests on Tuesday night for the design of an upcoming water project. This work will take place between 1800 to 1626 Worcester Road (near the I-90 turnpike ramps). The right lane on Rt. 9 East will be closed to traffic during working hours. Please use caution if you are traveling through the area.

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Framingham State University (FSU)

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Framingham State University RAMs football team clinched the 2019 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championship with a 40-20 victory over Bridgewater State University in MASCAC action at Bowditch Field this afternoon.

The Rams have won three straight MASCAC Titles and at least a share of four of the last five MASCAC championships. As the champions, the Rams will receive the MASCAC’s automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA Division III Football Championship.

Game Highlights

Freshman Devaun Ford (Mashpee, Mass.) rushed for over 100 yards for the second straight game picking up 135 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown. Ford averaged 7.9 yards per carry and also made three catches in the game.

Senior Adam Wojenski (Stratford, Conn.) completed 13-of-21 pass attempts for 203 yards with four touchdowns. Wojenski rushed for 42 yards on 12 carries.

Freshman Elijah Nichols (Burlington, NJ) made five catches for 95 yards with a score, while sophomores Austin Nunn (Bellingham, Mass.) and Emmanuel Exilhomme (Roslindale, Mass.) and senior Jacob Maher (Marshfield, Mass.) all caught touchdown passes in the game.

Nick Santavicca paced the Bears rushing attack rushing for 82 yards on 20 carries with a score.

Stefano D’Emilia completed 20-of-38 passes for 273 yards with a pair of touchdowns. D’Emilia tossed one interception and was sacked three times.

William Watts caught six passes for 74 yards with two scores, while T.J. Hairston caught five balls for 97 yards.

The Rams defense was key in the game forcing two turnovers that led to two touchdowns in the second quarter.

Junior Anthony Behonick (Rutland, Mass.) recorded six tackles in the game including four solo and two for a loss. Behonick recovered a fumble in the second quarter and returned it 14 yards setting up a touchdown and then later in the quarter intercepted D’Emilia and returned it for a score.

Senior Carls Alphonse (Somerville, Mass.) recorded a game-high 11 tackles with a pass breakup, while junior Joshua Onujiogu (Wareham, Mass.) added three tackles including a pair of sacks.

How the Game Was Played

The Bears took the opening kickoff and needed just six plays to go 66 yards for the game’s first score. D’Emilia connected with Watts for a 22- yard touchdown just over three minutes into the game.

The Rams answered with a score on their first possession of the game. A 36-yard pass to Nichols put the ball on the Bears six-yard line. Ford gained four yards on first down and found the end zone from two yards out on second. After both teams failed to convert their PATs, the game was tied 6-6 with 9:07 left in the first.

After the Rams defense forced a three and out, the Rams went 52 yards on 10 plays capped by a three-yard touchdown pass from Wojenski and Maher to go ahead 13-6

The Rams defense was key to a pair of second quarter scores that pushed the lead to 27-6. Onujiogu sacked D’Emilia and forced a fumble that was recovered and return to the 40-yard line by Behonick with 14:49 on the clock in the second. Nunn caught a pair of passes moving the ball down to the Bears 16-yard line setting up a 16-yard touchdown from Wojenski to Nichols.

On the Bears next possession Behonick intercepted D’Emilia, who was under pressure from sophomore Cully Curran (Arlington, Mass.) and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown and a 27-6 lead with 10:20 on the clock before the half.

Bridgewater State answered with a six-play, 55-yard drive capped by an eight-yard touchdown run from Santavicca cutting the deficit to 27-13.

The Rams added a final score with just under three minutes remaining in the half. Ford broke a tackle and scampered 24 yards to the Bears 32-yard line and on the next play Wojenski and Exilhomme connected for the 32-yard touchdown.

The Bears were driving on their final possession of the half and had the ball in Rams territory, but the Rams defense came with a stop on third down and forced the Bears to punt.

The Bears took advantage of a Ram fumble on the first possession of the second half and capitalized on a penalty by the Rams on a 4th and two that kept the scoring drive alive. After the penalty, D’Emilia completed a 39 yard pass to Hairston and then hit Watts for a one-yard score cutting the lead to 33-20 with 12:25 left in the third.

After a Ram punt, the Bears were once again driving and faced a 4th and goal from the two. After a timeout, the Rams defense came up with the stop on fourth down setting up a 13 play, 98 yard scoring drive that took 6:41 off the clock. Ford ripped off a 44-yard run on the drive and Wojenski connected with Nunn, who broke a pair of tackles, for a 24-yard score pushing the lead to 40-20 with just under 12 remaining in the game.

The Rams defense forced the Bears to turn the ball over on downs on their next two possessions to seal the victory.

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Thanks to Kathy Lynch, Assistant Director, Athletics, Sports Information at Framingham State University for contributing this story.

Framingham State University RAMS Athletics

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Framingham State University football team received four turnovers and six sacks from the defense while senior quarterback Adam Wojenski (Stratford, Conn.) accounted for five touchdowns as the Rams defeated previously unbeaten Western Connecticut State 39-14 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Bowditch Field this afternoon.

The Rams defense held the high scoring offense of Western Connecticut to just 14 points in the game well below their league leading scoring average of 39.5 points per game. The Rams defense allowed 347 yards of total offense including 319 passing, but came up with four turnovers and six sacks.

Senior Dwayne Hunter-Parker (Waterbury, Conn.) recorded a pair of interceptions for the Rams to go along with six tackles, while classmate Carls Alphonse (Somerville, Mass.) added an interception with a 55-yard return and five tackles.  Junior Joshua Smiley (Springfield, Mass.) recorded five solo stops with three sacks including a sack-fumble. Sophomore Adeboye Oyaronbi (Revere, Mass.) added seven tackles and a pair of sacks, while junior Joshua Onujiogu (Wareham, Mass.) added four tackles and the Rams final sack.  Sophomore Cully Curran (Arlington, Mass.) paced the defense with 10 tackles including eight solo.

The Rams balanced offense recorded 341 total yards in the game including 176 yards passing and 165 yards on the ground.  Wojenski completed 15 of 25 for 176 yards with four touchdowns, while rushing for 84 yards on 16 carries with a score.  Freshman Devaun Ford (Mashpee, Mass.) rushed for 73 yards on 18 carries and scored on an 88 yard kickoff return.

Senior Jacob Maher (Marshfield, Mass.) recorded six catches for 69 yards, while junior Emmanuel Exilhomme (Roslindale, Mass.) added three catches for 54 yards and a pair of scores.  Freshman Elijah Nichols (Burlington, NJ) had a pair of catches in the game including a touchdown.

David James completed 21 of 42 passes for 319 yards for the Colonials with two touchdowns and three interceptions while being sacked six times. Will Daniels was James’ favorite target catching eight balls for 149 yards with a score, while Chris Pascall had five catches for 92 yards.

Anthony Via was the Colonials leading rusher with 50 yards on 13 carries. The Colonials defense was led by nine tackles including on for a loss from Austin Thornberg, while Vincent Scancarello added eight.

The Colonials had a chance to get on the board on their first possession of the day on a 29-yard field goal attempt from Jordon D’Onofrio, but the kick was short.

The Rams went 80 yards on 11 plays on their next possession taking the lead for good when Wojenski capped the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Exilhomme. Wojenski picked up a pair of key runs on the drive to keep the chains moving. After the kick was blocked, the Rams led 6-0 with under a minute in the first.

Alphonse’s interception on the Colonials ensuing possession and 55-yard return with added yardage for a penalty set up the Rams second score of the game. Wojenski hit Exilhomme on the sideline and Exilhomme dove for the pylon for a 14-yard touchdown reception. The PAT failed and the Rams led 12-0 with 12:08 on the clock in the second.

Western Connecticut responded with a touchdown on their next possession of the game. James connected with Pascall for a 47-yard pass giving the Colonials the ball on the Rams 10-yard line. Three plays later James hit Daniels in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. After the PAT, the Colonials trailed 12-7.

Late in the second quarter a short punt by the Colonials gave the Rams the ball on the 32-yard line. A nine-yard rush from Wojenski and seven yards from Ford put the ball on the 16-yard line. Wojenski completed two straight passes an 11-yard gain to Maher and a five yard scoring strike to Nichols. After the PAT was blocked, the Rams led 18-7 with 1:30 on the clock before the half.

The Colonials moved the ball into Ram territory on their final possession of the half, but a sack by Smiley and a pair of incompletions kept the Colonials out of the end zone.

The Rams defense stopped the Colonials on the first possession of the second half before Wojenski tossed a four-yard touchdown to William Jean on the Rams first possession of the half. The Rams went for two and converted leading 26-7 with 8:17 left in the third.

The Colonials defense forced a fumble and came up with the recovery on the Rams 19-yard line with 2:36 on the clock in the third. On the first play from scrimmage Jams tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Devon Smith. After the PAT, the Rams led 26-14. Ford returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown extending the lead to 32-14. A muffed snap on a punt by the Colonials set up the Rams final touchdown of the game. A one-yard quarterback sneak from Wojsenski with 11:07 left in the fourth. The Rams defense came up with an interception and a sack-fumble in the fourth to seal the victory.

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For the latest on Framingham State Athletics, follow the Rams via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

As Massachusetts' premier state college, Framingham State University offers prepared and motivated students a wide range of challenging undergraduate and graduate programs. Located just 20 miles from Boston, the university offers many options for students to engage in real-world learning both on its quintessential New England campus and in Boston and its thriving MetroWest region.

Thanks to Kathy Lynch, Assistant Director, Athletics, Sports Information at Framingham State University for contributing this story.

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New digital parking meters installed in Downtown Framingham Central Business District.

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The City of Framingham has installed 146 new "Smart Parking Meters" in the Downtown Framingham Central Business District.

The new meters replace the old coin-operated ones that were removed for the recently completed downtown sidewalk renovations.

The new meters are smart meters and take both credit cards and coins.

The new meters are located in the Downtown Framingham central business district, on Concord Street, Hollis Street, Howard Street, Park Street and Union Avenue

Metered parking fees are $1.25 per hour or $2 for two hours.

Maximum parking time is two hours.

Framingham will enforce parking Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays and holidays are free.

According to information on the manufacturer's website, (IPS Group), the new M5™ Single Space Meters have advanced capabilities to handle Pay-by-Phone, Token, Permit, optional NFC/contactless payment, as well as software integration for real-time data, Parking Enforcement, Advanced Data Analysis and more. The units can be solar powered and managed via wireless network configuration.

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