The Newman City Council will meet Tuesday, July 28, at City Hall, where the swearing‑in of newly hired Police Chief Raymond Framstad will highlight an otherwise routine agenda.
Councilmembers will begin the evening in closed session to discuss potential litigation and labor negotiations with the Newman Police Officers Association. The regular meeting will follow with the Pledge of Allegiance, invocation and roll call.
Framstad, an operations lieutenant with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office, was unanimously approved by the council last week on a 4‑0 vote. Councilmember Gisel Pimentel was absent. His first official day with the Newman Police Department is July 27, according to the agenda report.
City Manager Michael Holland said an outside interview panel was “thoroughly impressed” with Framstad’s qualifications.
“We found him very knowledgeable and experienced to qualify to become the next chief for the City of Newman,” Holland said.
Framstad brings more than 20 years of experience with the Sheriff’s Office, where he has served as a deputy sheriff, operations sergeant and operations lieutenant overseeing units including Code Enforcement, the Detective’s Bureau, the Coroner’s Bureau and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force. His background also includes time with the Modesto Police Department, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and Livingston Police Department. He is an adjunct professor at Merced Community College District.
Born in Santa Cruz and raised in Ceres, Framstad graduated from Ceres High School and later earned degrees in administration of justice, criminal management and organizational leadership.
Under his employment agreement, Framstad will serve through Dec. 31, 2035, with an annual salary of $173,856 and a 3% pay increase after 10 years. His benefits include four weeks of vacation and 12 sick days per year.
Mayor Casey Graham said he is “very excited” to welcome Framstad to the department, calling him “a very nice guy [with] a lot of experience.”
Tuesday’s agenda also includes routine consent items such as approval of warrants and minutes. Time will be provided for public comment, as well as updates from the Stanislaus County District Five supervisor, city staff and councilmembers.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Newman City Hall.
