Mayor Addresses Recent Staff Shortage In Conservation Department

FRAMINGHAM, MA - Framingham Mayor Charles Sisitsky addressed community concerns about recent staff departures from the city's conservation department during Tuesday night's three-hour City Council meeting.

Sisitsky noted that his office received many messages, including "boilerplate emails" about the recent resignations of Rob MacArthur, the longtime conservation administrator, and his two department assistants. McArthur announced in March that he was retiring in May.

"It's unfortunate that it began like that and ended like that," he continued, noting that a call to City Hall could have more directly explained what happened.

Director of Planning and Community Development Sarkis Sarkisian, who has overseen the situation, explained that he had considered splitting the director's role between the two assistants, with one focusing on regulatory issues and the other on planning.

He also offered a three-step pay increase and additional week of vacation to make the role's benefits more desirable. However one of the assistants, whom Sarkisian did not name, requested to work from home as a deal breaker.

"We're in the service business, and that's something we can't provide [from home]," Sarkisian explained. "We need people in City Hall to provide that service when people come in off the street."

He requested patience from the public as he searches "to find the right person" for these roles in a shallow pool of job candidates.

Sarkisian said he is meeting with a former Framingham conservation agent who has worked with BETA Engineering, a government consulting firm, to get part-time assistance until new hires are on board.

District 3 City Councilor Adam Steiner called the situation "a serious concern." He questioned why an attempt wasn't made to fill McArthur's position more quickly. He also said the positions should have been posted both internally and externally.

Sarkisian responded that he discussed the role with the two assistants and dividing it between them. One took a job in the private sector, while the other was involved in negotiations for the position until last Thursday, but she wanted to work from home.

District 9 City Councilor Tracey Bryant said that the template email should not be criticized as a way for the public to mobilize. Personal calls and emails also were directed to the councilors, she added.

"Some of the characterizations are unfair to our public, to our residents," Bryant continued. "They have always shown a great concern about the environment and conservation. I think it came as a shock to them."

Cesar Stewart-Morales, the District 2 councilor, asked about the steps that will take place to fill the vacancies.

The game plan, according to Sarkisian, is to allow the new conservation administrator to have input into the hiring decision for the assistant roles. A consulting firm will be used to facilitate the hiring process.