Framingham Appoints Eric Johnson as New DPW Director
The City Council unanimously confirmed the appointment of the longtime city engineer to lead the department.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in People
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On October 6, 2026, Mayor Charlie Sisitsky appointed Eric Johnson as the Framingham Director of Public Works. The City Council unanimously confirmed the selection of the veteran municipal employee for the role.
Why it matters
The department is currently navigating significant staffing shortages, having lost nearly 30 employees in recent years. Addressing these vacancies remains a priority as the city faces budget pressures while maintaining critical infrastructure.
The city faces a competitive disadvantage with compensation approximately 30% below market offerings. This has contributed to the loss of nearly 30 employees across the department, including 14 departures from the highway division.
The players
Eric Johnson
He is the newly appointed Director of Public Works who has worked for Framingham since 2005.
Charlie Sisitsky
He is the Mayor of Framingham who selected the city engineer for the leadership appointment.
The details
Johnson brings 21 years of experience with Framingham to the directorship, having previously served as senior wastewater engineer, Director of Planning and Design, and city engineer. His team manages more than 250 miles of water pipe, a network that requires 2.5 miles of annual replacement to meet its 100-year design lifespan.
Timeline
2005: Eric Johnson joined the city staff.
2009 to 2014: Johnson served as Director of Planning and Design.
2014: Johnson began his tenure as city engineer.
Oct. 6, 2026: Mayor Charlie Sisitsky appointed Johnson to the director role.
End of 2026: The city aims to have half of all water meters upgraded.
Market Landscape
The department's recruitment challenges mirror the broader trend of municipal labor shortages driven by non-competitive salaries and changes to the state pension system. The city is currently shifting internal staff between roles to mitigate these operational gaps.
Residents can expect ongoing infrastructure maintenance, including the goal to upgrade half of the city's water meters by the end of 2026. While the department faces staff shortages, officials continue to utilize private snow and ice contractors to ensure consistent winter service levels.
The takeaway
The city is prioritizing essential infrastructure projects, such as the Saxonville intersection upgrade, despite persistent budgetary and staffing hurdles. Maintaining service levels remains a primary goal for the incoming director in the face of significant turnover.
What happens next
Construction for the Saxonville intersection project is scheduled to begin next summer.
Further reading
For more information on local leadership transitions, visit Framingham People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MetroWest Daily News.
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