The Town of Braintree’s planning director, Melissa Santucci Razi, is no longer employed by the town, Assistant Director Connor Murphy told the Planning Board on Feb. 11.

“...our forward director Melissa Santucci is no longer with the town of Braintree,” Murphy said while presenting a staffing update at the start of the board’s meeting. A memo from the mayor’s office was included in the board’s meeting packet, Murphy said.

Board Chair Kim Crowe and several board members publicly thanked Santucci Razi for her years of work. Crowe said Santucci Razi had served in the Planning Department for approximately 20 years and as director since 2021; Crowe praised her “detailed approach” to difficult planning decisions. Member Montgomery, identifying themself as the board’s longest-serving member, also thanked Santucci Razi for “professionalism, ethics, and very high work standard.”

Murphy and the board said the town has advertised the planning director position and that Murphy is serving as interim director while the search proceeds. Member Tom Kent asked whether Santucci Razi’s departure raised any issues that might require the board to revisit prior decisions; Murphy responded that he did not believe so and advised Kent to address detailed questions to the administration.

The board did not take formal action on the staffing item; they recorded the departure and expressed thanks to Santucci Razi. The planning director recruitment was described as an active administrative matter in the meeting packet.