UPDATED: Framingham Town Meeting Rejects Ban on Sale of Plastic Water Bottles

Framingham Town Meeting rejected a ban on the sale of plastic water bottles Wednesday night, Oct. 22.

The citizen’s petition called for the ban of the sale of non-sparkling, single-use bottles of water made of the chemical PET, polyethylene terephthalate.

After a very lengthy debate, Town Meeting members voted against the ban 40-60-1.

The issue was brought to Town Meeting by Framingham High School senior Matt D’Amico, 17, as a citizen’s petition.

Framingham Selectman Jason Smith and Town Meeting member Bill McCarthy, of Precinct 10, both spoke against the ban of single water bottles, 1 liter or smaller, for economic reason.

McCarthy called the proposal anti-business. He said, if approved, it would hurt both the town’s big businesses, like Stop & Shop and BJ’s, as well as small businesses like convenience and mom & pop stores.

D’Amico proposed the ban - which was based on one approved by the Town of Concord in 2012 - for environmental and health reasons.

Smith reminded Town Meeting voters, unlike Concord, Framingham has a bottling water plant in town, that pays more than $1.3 million in taxes, along with a large water and sewer bill. He said the plant employees more than 100 and also supports community organizations.

Aaron LeGars, the factory manger for that Poland Spring bottling plant in Framingham, spoke against the ban. He said the PET bottles are safe and approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

The Framingham Board of Health chair Michael Hugo did not dispute him. Instead, he told Town Meeting, the Framingham Board of Health would take no position on the issue.

However, dozens of Town Meeting members spoke in favor of the ban.

Anne Sullivan, of Precinct 8, said she would vote for the ban. “I think that there is enough of a risk involved and it isn’t worth taking the risk.”

Herb Chasan of Precinct 4 also supported the ban. “I think it is totally appropriate that Town Meeting send a message about the environment.” He said business would adapt.

Cynthia Laurora of Precinct 11 agreed. “I feel that in my gut that something as pure as water shouldn’t be corrupted by this plastic and there’s plenty of alternatives.”

But several Town Meeting members, including Audrey Hall of Precinct 3, said she would prefer the issue be addressed globally, not just in Framingham.

Many Town Meeting members said if Framingham’s State Representative Chris Walsh and Tom Sannicandro supported the citizen’s petition - they should write legislation that could be voted at the state level to ban the single-serve non-sparkling, unflavored water bottles with PET across Massachusetts. They argued banning the sale in just one or two town’s isn’t enough.

If the ban was approved, residents could have purchased single-serve water bottles in neighboring Natick or Ashland and still drink them in Framingham.

For others it just came down to question, should everything that could be dangerous to residents, be banned in Framingham.

Town Meeting member Gloria Geller, of Precinct 2, said canned tomatoes and soda are bad, should we ban them?

Town Meeting member Mike Cannon, of Precinct 9, asked Town Meeting members to picture Marathon Monday 2015, and visitors to Framingham being told they can not purchase a bottle of water while they watch the runners.

He said Framingham needs to reject the ban, but like many Town Meeting members he commended D’Amico for his first effort into town politics.

To read more of the debate, visit the Framingham Patch live blog of Town Meeting night 2

Live Blog - Night 2 - Part A

Live Blog - Night 2 - Part B