Ottaviani Takes Helm Of Framingham City Council

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Every two years, the Framingham City Council picks two councilors to lead the group. Last night's election elevated District 6 Councilor Philip Ottaviani to the chair's seat, and At-Large Councilor Janet Leombruno to vice chair.

In general, the two Council leaders maintain order during meetings. The vice chair leads meetings when the chair is absent or unable. Over the last two years, At-Large Councilor George King Jr. and District 3 Councilor Adam Steiner served as chair and vice chair, respectively.

Tuesday's election wasn't unanimous. When it came time to nominate candidates for the chair position, District 9 Councilor Tracey Bryant nominated Ottaviani, and District 1 Councilor Christine Long nominated Steiner.

Steiner declined the nomination, however, saying he wanted to start the new term off on a diplomatic foot. He was officially reelected on Jan. 11 in a special election against Mary Kate Feeney.

"I think that it'd be good to have new faces in leadership," he said.

Ottaviani won the chairman seat with only District 2 Councilor Cesar Stewart-Morales voting no.

The election for vice chair was a bit more of a contest. Steiner nominated Long for the seat, and King nominated Leombruno. Both Long and Leombruno highlighted their decades of service in city and town government as reasons they should be elevated to a leadership role. Both were elected to Council for the first time in 2019, and Long was reelected in 2021 (At-Large councilors serve four-year terms).

The vote went in Leombruno's favor 6 to 5, with Steiner, Bryant, Morales, Long and District 7 Councilor Leora Mallach voting for Long.