Framingham City Council Unanimously Approves New Planning Director

FRAMINGHAM, MA - The Framingham City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Natick resident Sarkis M. Sarkisian as the city’s new Director of Planning & Community Development at its meeting Tuesday night.

Mayor Charlie Sisitsky appointed Sarkisian last week, which needed the approval of the council. Sarkisian appeared with the mayor to discuss his goals with the councilors, first at an Appointments Subcommittee Meeting and one hour later at the full City Council meeting.

Sarkisian will be joining the mayor's leadership team in early May after serving for 13 years as Town Planner for the Town of Wayland and 17 years as Community Development Director for the Town of Natick.

“I was pleased by City Council’s reception of Mr. Sarkisian,” said Sisitsky in a statement. “Their discussion showed that there are many shared priorities and a strong desire to be mutually supportive. Mr. Sarkisian’s well-earned reputation as a collaborative problem-solver will be a terrific asset as he leads our PCD.”

During Sarkisian's career, he has successfully managed major projects in adjacent communities, including the $160-million Wayland Town Center, Mass Central Rail Trail, and the Natick Downtown Revitalization Project on East Central Street, which included new buildings for Departments of Police/Fire, Morse Institute Library and Town Hall.

In executing these and other projects, he worked closely with municipal boards and commissions, other civic and business leaders, and regional and state economic development professionals.

“I have fostered the ability to cultivate great working relationships, which will allow me to begin working very quickly to accomplish Framingham’s goals and objectives,” said Sarkisian.

“His management style and problem-solving ability will be terrific attributes as we restructure our Planning & Community Development Division to create and implement an economic development vision for our city,” said Sisitsky. “I very much look forward to working with him to move Framingham forward for the betterment of our businesses and residents.”

The Appointments Subcommittee and the City Council also unanimously approved Sisitsky's appointees to serve three-year terms on the following boards and committees:

• Ben Gustafson (District 5): Bicycles, Pedestrians, and Trails Committee
• Gregory Hayes (District 1) and Roberta Ho (District 3): Human Relations Commission
• Carolyn Assa (District 1), Magdalena Janus (District 5), and Elena Tsizer (District 6): Women, Children & Families Commission
• Richard Constant (District 3): Veterans Council

Also unanimously ratified were Jeff Goldberg (District 3) and Nancy Novo O’Connor (District 1), who will serve during 2022 on the Ordinance Review & Recodification Committee, which convenes every five years, as stipulated in the City Charter.

Information about the role of these and other boards and commissions can be found on the city's website or from Keziah Franca at kfranca@framinghamma.gov.

To submit an application to fill a board or commission vacancy, go to framinghamma.gov/serve.