FRAMINGHAM, MA - In spite of the recent cold spell, the ice conditions of many bodies of water across the Commonwealth remain uncertain, as demonstrated by the recent ice rescues of a number of individuals and pets. Therefore, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has issued information regarding safety precautions to be taken on our frozen lakes, rivers and ponds.

“Before we experience a tragedy that is unfortunately too common this time of year, it is important that we remind everyone, particularly children, of the dangers of unsafe ice,” said MEMA Director Kurt Schwartz. “People may be a bit impatient and venture out on the ice for skating, hockey, ice fishing and other winter sports before understanding the conditions. We highly recommend the use of recreational skating areas provided by the Commonwealth and your local communities. It is very important to exercise precaution and common sense.”

Always check with your local police, fire or park department to ensure that safe ice conditions exist. However, due to the uncertainty and constant changing of ice conditions and the dangers ...[read more]

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Through a grant received from the Office of Local and Regional Health, the Framingham Health Department will provide residents with a free disposal site for their needles, syringes and lancets and their unused or expired medications.

Safe disposal of sharps and prescription drugs is essential in ensuring the health and safety of the community and environment. In 2012 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts banned the disposal of medical sharps in local trash and recycling program leaving residents to find new methods for disposing of these items. The addition of sharps kiosks in Framingham will address this gap.

Sharps should be placed in a sealed container that is puncture and leak proof, such as a coffee can or soda bottle. They should not be placed in glass containers, paper, or plastic bags. Residents can bring their sharps to the Town of Framingham Health Department located at 150 Concord Street, Room 221 or to Framingham Police Headquarters located at 1 William Welch Way.

Unused or expired medications, pills, creams or patches can also be disposed of and can be deposited in a medication kiosk located in the lobby of Framingham Police Headquarters. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. The rate of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies have shown that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends.

These are a free service, anonymous with no questions asked.

Drop off hours:
Town of Framingham Health Department: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Framingham Police Headquarters: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

For more information visit www.framinghamma.gov/290/Health-Department or email the Town of Framingham Health Department at health@framinghamma.gov

###

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Senate President Stan Rosenberg today announced his leadership team and Committee chairmanship assignments. Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) has been named the new Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, which oversees the budget and finances of the Commonwealth.

“I would first like to thank Senate President Stan Rosenberg for this honor,” said Senator Spilka. “I am grateful and humbled that he would place his confidence, faith and trust in me. This is a responsibility that I do not take lightly. I will work hard every day to help President Rosenberg achieve his ambitious, bold agenda to empower all members, increase transparency and reduce public skepticism about government. I will work hard every day with my colleagues to assist our communities and help raise up all of the residents of Massachusetts. Now, we have a lot of work to do.”

 ###

FRAMINGHAM, MA - A former Middlesex Assistant District Attorney allegedly violated conflict of interest laws and has been indicted in connection with misuse of his position, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today. He allegedly traded information in exchange for oxycodone pills.

Stephen Gilpatric, age 35, of Somerville, was indicted by a Statewide Grand Jury on charges of Unlawful Gratuity, Unlawfully Communicating Criminal Offender Record Information, and Receiving Unlawful Compensation. He will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on Friday, January 9th, 2015 at 9:00a.m.

Gilpatric served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office (MDAO) from November 2007 until October 2014, when the AG’s Office began an investigation. He most recently worked within the MDAO’s Public Protection, Anti-terrorism, Corruption and Technology (PACT) Unit, where he handled a variety of specialized prosecutions, including public corruption, white collar crime and major narcotics cases. The AG’s Office received the full cooperation of the MDAO throughout the investigation.

The investigation revealed that in October 2011, Gilpatric allegedly provided his drug supplier with information that he obtained through his position as an Assistant District Attorney in exchange for drugs. He allegedly gave this drug supplier sensitive information about another man, including a Board of Probation record, a police report, a photograph, and other personal identifying information, in exchange for oxycodone pills.

Authorities further allege that Gilpatric also provided additional confidential law enforcement information—a criminal record and an organizational chart of a drug ring—to this same drug supplier and his brother, hoping to receive pills in exchange.

At this time, the AG’s investigation has no evidence to suggest Gilpatric provided information related to any criminal cases he was personally investigating or prosecuting.

Additionally, in August 2011, Gilpatric allegedly made an agreement with a woman to help get her son’s commercial driver’s license back, which was revoked following a guilty plea in a criminal case, in exchange for $1,500.

Authorities allege that Gilpatric was spending hundreds of dollars a week to feed his addiction to Oxycontin.

This case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General James O’Brien, Chief of Attorney General Coakley's Public Integrity Division, and Assistant Attorney General Dean Mazzone, Deputy Chief of the AG’s Criminal Bureau, with assistance from Sallyann Nelligan, Chief of the AG’s Financial Investigations Division, State Police assigned to the Attorney General’s Office, and the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab.

###

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is pleased to announce the appointments of nine commissioners to the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women. The Commissioners are as follows: Cathy Ashton of Wayland, Leonor Filipe of Framingham, Patricia Hohl of Framingham, Kelly Love of Norwood, Jennifer Maseda of Natick, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert of Norfolk, Nancy Rosenblum of Ashland, Denise Schultz of Franklin, and Heather Wightman of Hopkinton.

The Commissioners will be sworn-in at the Inauguration of the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women at the D. Justin McCarthy Center at Framingham State University in Framingham, MA on ...[read more]