City Council - Appointment Committee

Appointment Committee Meeting Minutes: July 28, 2021 Councilor Rothschild called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm Members Present: Councilor Lindsey Rothschild, Councilor Erica Flood, Councilor James P Kwiecinszki Also in Attendance: No further attendees Approval of Minutes: Motion (Kwiecinszki) to approve minutes from 04/15/21, Second (Rothschild), 2-0, 1 abstention (Flood) motion passes. Minutes Approved Motion (Rothschild) to approve minutes from 06/08/21, Second (Flood), 3-0 motion passes. Minutes Approved Public Speak Time: No public present New Business: Discussion on process Mayoral appointments Elizabeth Rist Board of Health with Term expiring Dec. 31, 2023 Councilors have reviewed and approve of her qualifications for the position applied for. Her letter of interest is included in this document for reference. (Rothschild) motion to recommend Elizabeth Rist’s appointment to the Board of Health with Term expiring Dec. 31, 2023 (Kwiecinszki) second 3-0 motion passes. Kenneth Iavecchia Planning Bd. with Term expiring (Assoc. Member) Dec. 31, 2023 Councilor Kwiecinszki voices concern that we did not get a response either in person or in writing from a person who would like to serve, committee members concur and suggest we would like to meet again on this applicant. Discussion on scheduling. Tentatively planned for Wednesday, August 4 @ 5:15pm pending confirmation from applicant that he can attend at that time. Future meeting scheduled for August 11 @ 5 pm to address additional appointments received by Mayor’s office in recent days. Motion to adjourn (Flood) Second (Kwiecinszki). Unanimously passes 3-0. 5:10 pm Respectfully Submitted, Councilor Erica Ann Flood Clerk to the Appointment Committee From: Elizabeth Rist Date: June 7, 2021 at 9:18:59 PM EDT To: Lindsey Rothschild <LRothschild@easthamptonma.gov> Subject: Re: Mayoral Appointment Hi Lindsay, Unfortunately I’ll be working at the time of this meeting. So I’d be happy to answer your questions via email instead. 1. Why are you interested in serving on this committee/board? I have been a resident of Easthampton for nearly my entire life. I have seen it change and grow into the vibrant community it is today. I view my potential role with the Board of Health as an opportunity to give back to the city that raised me. 2. In what ways do you see yourself being able to contribute to this committee? (professional/personal experience different perspective, skills) I have been practicing as a Physician Assistant in Western Massachusetts for the past 12+ years. I have worked in multiple specialties, including surgery, Addiction Medicine, and Urgent Care. These experiences have not only broadened my medical knowledge and experience, but have also demonstrated for me how important it is to meet the health needs of my community for both disease prevention and treatment. I believe that addressing public health issues Is an essential part of creating a happy and healthy city. Working in urgent care in particular has placed me on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19 which has been a valuable experience for me, particularly as I hopefully begin serving on the Board of Health. As a PA in addiction medicine, I witnessed firsthand the damage opioid addiction can do to patients and their families. This is a public health crisis and one I hope to continue to address, both in my professional career and as a citizen of Easthampton. 3. What are ways you engage with the Easthampton community? (volunteerism, school involvement, meetings/events, school involvement, social media, etc.) I attend as many Easthampton area events as possible, such as Cultural Chaos, food-truck Friday and the farmer’s market. I feel it is important to help support local businesses and participate in the day-to-day activities that make our city so special. I also follow the Easthampton group page, as well as numerous other Facebook pages, so I can keep up to date on what’s happening with the city. It is there that I can stay informed about exciting changes and projects, such as the new K-8 school, the Ferry St project, and so much more. Thank you for your consideration. Beth Rist