Council approves Callahan reorganization, 6-5

Select Board · Meeting of August 18, 2026

FRAMINGHAM — The Framingham City Council voted 6-5 to approve Mayor Charlie Sositsky's plan to fold the Callahan Senior Center into a new library division and merge parks with facilities management, eliminating the aging-services director position. Councilors also approved the accompanying ordinance 6-5 on first reading, though a second vote is still required. Chief Financial Officer Brian Turbot pegged annual savings at $200,000 to $210,000.

Opponents, including Council on Aging chair Cynthia Cobb and former member Audrey Hall, said the cuts are "a drop in the ocean" against a $389 million budget and cited 1,053 petition signatures against the plan. Separately, the council unanimously referred a proposed automatic-license-plate-reader ordinance back to committee after Councilor Stefanini withdrew his motion, with Councilor Cannon calling the draft "a very sweeping, very broad pro mass surveillance ordinance." The council also restored roughly $500,000 in condominium trash pickup funding through June 30, 2027, and approved a $409,600 Community Preservation Act appropriation for the Chris Walsh Memorial Trail design.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,095 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of August 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.