This is a combined effort from Claude.ai generative AI and me, speech transcription done by Assembly AI
The state of Framingham remains strong, Mayor Charlie Sisitsky reported in tonight’s State of the City address, citing achievements ranging from 8,100 new building permits last year and TJX’s decision to expand in the city to a “regional justice center” he believes will help revitalize downtown.
And, he said a city composting program will launch with free compost bins for the first 1,000 homes that sign up, funded by a $22,000 grant.
“I am encouraged by the progress we have made, but know there is still work to do,” he said.
Sisitsky also announced plans for a first Framingham Day on Saturday, October 4 “to honor the artistic, cultural, and diverse community”; fireworks at Farm Pond again in 2025 on June 27; and the opening of the Framingham Centre Farmers Market this year on Thursday, June 19. Last year almost 26,000 people attended the market, he said.
And, the city will be celebrating its 325th anniversary. “I have established a Celebration Committee dedicated to planning a variety of events throughout the year. Events will include historical, cultural, artistic activities… which will be reflective of the diversity of our city,” Sisitsky said.
Touching briefly on a few issues that have angered some residents, the mayor said that water and sewer rates were being restructured with “the goal of stabilizing the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, ensuring equitable cost distribution among users, promoting water conservation, and supporting vital infrastructure improvements.”
He also said that he and his administration were able to determine that the city is in conditional compliance with the MBTA Communities Act zoning in time for a Dec. 31 deadline that risked losing state grants.
Some residents who were upset with the MBTA process would probably want to add that Sisitsky’s administration had pushed for major rezoning in the city in order to comply, including more than a thousand new units in Nobscot just a few months before the deadline. City councilors who suggested the city use existing zoning to comply instead of major rezoning were mostly ignored for months while discussions at hours-long meetings and public hearings dragged on. And, after all that, a state court decision effectively gave communities more time to comply this year anyway.
Beyond those issues, Sisitsky outlined several infrastructure improvements completed in 2024, including reconstruction of streets in the Cedar Street neighborhood, resurfacing over three miles of streets in the Pinefield neighborhood, and near completion of intersection improvements with traffic light at Edgell Road and Central Street (that latter project overseen by Mass DOT). There has also been progress on the Freeman and Chris Walsh trails, he said.
The mayor announced several initiatives aimed at sustainability and climate change, including plans for a new municipal tree planting program focused on environmental justice neighborhoods.
Public safety updates included progress on the Regional Emergency Dispatch Center with Natick, which received a state 911 grant in 2024 and is expected to begin operations in early 2026. The Framingham Police Department implemented body-worn cameras, while the Fire Department responded to more than 32,000 emergency calls last year.
Sisitsky highlighted the city’s efforts to improve community engagement, noting that his administration filled over 65 positions on various boards and committees in the past 10 months. However, 95 vacancies still remain across the city’s boards and commissions, according to the official city website - representing more than a quarter of all positions - including openings on the Cable Advisory Committee, Community Development Committee, Council on Aging, and Traffic Commission.
The city’s weekly newsletter has grown from 1,000 to over 2,500 subscribers, he said, and the municipal Facebook page surpassed 10,000 followers with nearly half a million page views in the past month.
Looking ahead, the mayor announced the formation of a task force to address recent changes in federal immigration policy, with its first meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The group will include city departments, community organizations, and local religious leaders.
The mayor hopes the Economic Development Corp. will pursue a public-private partnership to build a new community swimming pool and improve accessibility at the Memorial Building.
He said that renovations have begun on the former Marian High School building, which is being converted into a citywide community center. Hazardous materials removal has been completed, with window and roof replacement planned as the next phase.
The city is also making progress on plans for a new elementary school on the South Side, having reached several milestones in the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s funding program.
Sisitsky closed his address by invoking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words: “The time is always right to do what is right,” and called for collaborative and creative thinking to address the city’s challenges. “Let’s continue to move forward in a spirit of cooperation and respect so we can grow stronger together.”
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