Framingham Mayor-Elect In Hospital: What City Charter Says

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Over the weekend, Framingham mayor-elect Charlie Sisitsky was hospitalized with an infection, his campaign said. Although he's not in charge of the city yet, the incident raises the question: what happens if Framingham's mayor has to step aside unexpectedly?

On Saturday, Sisitsky's campaign said the 76-year-old underwent a "routine medical procedure" recently and later developed an infection that put him in the hospital. The campaign did not immediately respond to multiple inquiries Monday about whether Sisitsky was still hospitalized.

"His condition is stable and he will be making a full recovery," the Saturday statement said. "Charlie will be directing transition work and forming his transition team as he recovers."

But what if Sisitsky were sitting in the mayor's seat during a hospitalization?

According to the city charter, any absence longer than 10 days would be filled by the chair of the City Council or the chair's designee. George King Jr. is the chair today, but the body will elect a new one at the beginning of 2022.

For absences under 10 days, the mayor can file a document with the City Clerk designating an acting mayor, according to the charter.

The charter also lays out what would happen if the mayor was incapacitated, died or had to resign during their term. If it happened within the first three years of the term, the city would hold a special election between 90 and 120 days from the date of the vacancy to pick someone to serve the remainder of the term. If the vacancy was within 120 days of Election Day, the mayor's seat would stay vacant until then.

Sisitsky defeated incumbent Yvonne Spicer in the Nov. 2 election by a margin of more than 4,000 votes. Spicer will remain mayor until the inauguration in early 2022.