Mayor Sisitsky To Give State of the Framingham Address on January 31

[broadstreet zone=”59983″]

FRAMINGHAM – Tonight, January 18, City of Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky informed the legislative branch he would give his first State of the City of Framingham address on Monday, January 31.

Mayor Charlie Sisitsky told SOURCE the address will be virtual via Zoom, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The City Charter requires the Mayor to give a State of the City address annually in January.

“Each year in the month of January the mayor shall make an address to a joint meeting of the council, school committee, all elected and appointed members of municipal committees, boards, commission or officers, division heads, department directors and residents reporting on the state of affairs of Framingham,” per the City Charter.

Former Mayor Yvonne Spicer missed the deadline her first year as Mayor and held her state of the City address on Monday, February 5, 2018. The City Council was informed of the February State of Framingham address on January 31, 2018.

Mayor Spicer’s State of Framingham addresses were delivered in January in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

The last one delivered by former Mayor Spicer was virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was announced on January 6, and was held on January 14, 2021.

The Baker-Polito administration announced on January 12 the State of the Commonwealth would take place on January 25.

Mayor Sisitsky informed the 11-member City Council tonight of his date for the address and invited them to watch.

Mayor Sisitsky’s transition team has yet to file a public report.

[broadstreet zone=”53130″]

First-ever Mayor Spicer issued her transition report on January 3.

The “Spicer Transition Team focused on the areas identified by Mayor Spicer in her Vision Plan: 1. Smooth Transition to City Form of Government; 2. Excellence in Education and Schools; 3. Invigorating Our Economy: Planned Growth, Balanced Development; 4. Preservation of Assets, Resources and Quality of Life; and 5. Investing in Our People – to come up with a plan for executing her vision. Their suggestions include identifying key operational recommendations specified in the Framingham Charter, and those they feel should be implemented immediately for the Mayor to have the utmost success in her new role.”

Mayor Sisitsky announced his transition team, subcommittees, and subcommittee co-chairs in late November.

In December, the then-Mayor elect’s team announced individuals invited to be a part of the subcommittees.

The subcommittees have been meetings since December, but no reports have been made public.

[broadstreet zone=”59945″]

The Subcommittee as their co-chairs included:

Intergovernmental Affairs
▫ Representative Jack Patrick Lewis, Co-chair
▫ Representative Maria Robinson, Co-chair

Diversity Equity Inclusion
▫ Ricky Finlay, Co-chair
▫ Sheryl Goldstein, Co-chair

Environment
▫ Ron Chick, Co-chair
▫ Aimee Powelka, Co-chair

Seniors
▫ Jen Rich, Co-chair
▫ Clyde Dottin, Co-chair

[broadstreet zone=”54526″]

Recreation/Cultural Affairs
▫ Mike Bower, Co-chair
▫ Donna Wresinski, Co-chair

Health
▫ Shivang Patel, Co-chair
▫ Nicole Doak, Co-chair

Operations/Personnel
▫ George King, Co-chair
▫ Nancy Novo O’Connor, Co-chair

Education

▫ Adam Freudberg, Co-chair
▫ Sarah Guernsey, Co-chair

Economic Development
▫ Rick Anketell, Co-chair
▫ Kristina Johnson, Co-chair

The transition subcommittees are focusing on recommending proposals and policies to transform city government from top to bottom, and ensure functioning, equitable, and efficient operations for all of Framingham’s residents.

Cathy Miles (co-founder of Framingham FORCE/ community advocate), who worked on Mayor-elect Sisitsky’s campaign, is Chair of the Transition Committee.