City Council - Appointment Committee

Appointment Committee Meeting Minutes: December 8, 2021 Councilor Rothschild called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. Members Present: Councilor Lindsey Rothschild, Councilor James Kwiecinski Also in Attendance: Councilor Homar Gomez, Shelby Donovan, Eric Poulin, Deborah August, Rebecca Passa Public Speak Time: No comments from the public. Continuing Business: No continuing business. New Business: New Mayor appointments: Name Board/Committee Term Expires E. Maude Haak-Frendscho Easthampton City Arts 12/31/2023 Robert Newton Aquifer Protection Committee 12/31/2022 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Mark Tanner City Solicitor 12/31/2022 Carol Veto City Tax Collector 12/31/2024 Jennifer Gallant City Treasurer 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Mayor Re-Appointments: Name Board/Committee Term Expires Kate Shapiro Affordable & Fair Housing Partnership 12/31/2024 Kasey Corsello Agricultural Commission 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Aimee Petrosky Board of Health 12/31/2024 Steven Lytwyn Board of Public Works 12/31/2024 Steven Lytwyn Zoning Board of Appeals 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Julianne Busa Conservation Commission 12/31/2024 Deborah August Conservation Commission 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Charles Conner Council on Aging 12/31/2024 Patrick Brough Council on Aging 12/31/2024 Joseph Banas Council on Aging 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Rebecca Passa Community Relations Committee 12/31/2024 Emily Britton Community Relations Committee 12/31/2024 Margaret Kierstein Community Relations Committee 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Cassie Eckhof Econ. Development & Indus. Commission (EDIC) 12/31/2024 Elaine Wood Nashawannuck Pond Committee 12/31/2024 Marylou Dodge Nashawannuck Pond Committee 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Elizabeth Sturgen Manhan Rail Trail Committee 12/31/2024 Annette Szczygiel Manhan Rail Trail Committee 12/31/2024 David Jaffe Manhan Rail Trail Committee 12/31/2024 John Bator Manhan Rail Trail Committee 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Eric Poulin Parks & Recreation Commission 12/31/2024 Robert Biardi Parks & Recreation Commission 12/31/2024 Brian Hiltpold Parks & Recreation Commission 12/31/2024 Discussion regarding concerns raise via email by Councilor Zaret re: E. Poulin’s appointment Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved James Zarvis Planning Board 12/31/2024 Jesse Belcher Timme Planning Board 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Thelma Issri Veterans Council 12/31/2024 Neil Hede Veterans Council 12/31/2024 Motion to approve the above (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 approved Motion to adjourn (Kwiecinski) Second (Rothschild) Vote 2-0 adjourned at 5:12pm Respectfully Submitted, Councilor Erica Ann Flood Clerk to the Appointment Committee December 8, 2021 Appointments ECA - 12/31/2023 E. Maude Haak-Frendscho Hello Councilor Rothschild, Thanks so much for reaching out and for the opportunity to share more about my interest in joining the Easthampton City Arts Committee! I have a work meeting that conflicts with the Appointment Committee meeting, unfortunately, so I won't be able to make it, but welcome any follow up questions to my responses to your questions. 1. I'm interested in serving on the ECA Committee so that I can be in a position to support and shape arts and cultural work here in Easthampton, both for the artistic producers and for the many communities that take part in and are represented through cultural expression. As a relative newcomer to the city, it would also be an amazing experience and opportunity to get more engaged in local creative communities and get to know more folks who also care about and work in this field. 2. I've been attending ECA Committee meetings for the last several months to see if it was a good fit and learn more about the Committee's work, and I think I have a lot to offer in programming ideas, experience running community-based arts programs, and in prior and on-going service-oriented roles. I've worked with a range of partners and communities to develop programming, and in this moment of re-visioning how to serve Easthampton's cultural soul while under continued pandemic considerations of public gathering, I have ideas to bring to the table and experience implementing them. As well, I'm invested in the continued work of expanding ECA's impact and the communities that it supports by bringing my experiences in arts non-profits and hybrid public/private entities to the soon-to-be non-profit arm of the ECA Committee. I think this is a pivotal moment for the ECA Committee, and I have the passion and skill sets to animate these new initiatives. 3. I initially met City Arts Coordinator Pasqualina Azzarello in the spring when my family would attend the weekly Spot Lot performance series. It was a breath of fresh air to experience live music and to be around others. When in the summer Pasqualina and I connected about hostas on the 413 Plant Exchange group, we started talking about the committee and I later started attending the meetings. Last month I joined several fellow arts workers in reviewing applications for the ECA's AWE residency program, and was proud of the excellent artists who we'd selected together, and excited to meet some of my fellow reviewers in the process. I regularly go to craft fairs, open studios, the farmers market, and other community gatherings with my family both to explore and to support. These kinds of touchpoints that grow and turn organically are part of what I hope from my participation as a full member of the ECA Committee; to make connections between parts of my life like gardening or family and the cultural work that I can help affect through the ECA and have enjoyed as a community member. Thank you so much for the opportunity to share more about my interests and experiences for serving on the ECA Committee. Have a good one, and I hope you and yours are all easing into the end of the year. My best, Maude Aquifer Protection - 12/31/2022 Robert Newton Hi Lindsey I am happy to give a little background to my interest in the Easthampton Aquifer Committee. I recently retired from Smith College where I was a professor in the Department of Geosciences (since 1978). One of my research interests is in groundwater hydrology and chemistry and indeed, I routinely (every other year) offered a course in groundwater geology. This was an upper level course and included a class project. Many years this project involved various groundwater issues in Easthampton such as the source of TCE contamination or potential contamination issues associated with the Maloney Well. All these projects were done in cooperation with the Easthampton Water Department. Perhaps more importantly, for more than 25 years I served on the Barnes Aquifer Advisory Committee (BAPAC). This was a regional committee with members from Easthampton, Southampton, Holyoke and Westfield administered through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. The purpose of this committee was to advise the member towns on ways to protect groundwater resources associated with the aquifer and we routinely reviewed and commented on plans for developments that could potentially impact the aquifer. This was a very effective committee and it was a sad day when it was disbanded. But it has served as a model and I am currently working with a number of towns in New Hampshire to form the Ossipee Aquifer Advisory Committee. This committee has already had an impact, dealing with a plan to infiltrate power plant wastewater, and a plan to build a gas station on a primary recharge area. What I can bring to the Easthampton Aquifer Committee is a history of groundwater protection practices that were done at BAPAC and in addition, I have a wide range of technical and analytical skills that can be applied to aquifer protection in Easthampton. For example, one of my groundwater class projects involved an analysis of the potential for contamination of the Maloney well by leakage from the Northampton Landfill. One of my students (actually a Hampshire College student who took my class) continued the analysis under my direction as his senior research project. This was done at the time the City of Northampton was proposing to expand the landfill. My student, Nick Newcomb, used a mathematical model that integrated GIS data with the USGS MODFLOW model to simulate the impact of the landfill on water quality at Easthampton’s Maloney Well. His results directly contradicted the results of the engineering firm hired by the City of Northampton. He made an award winning presentation of his analysis at a scientific conference and the landfill expansion was voted down. I will be honored to join the Easthampton Aquifer Committee. Easthampton relies on the Barnes Aquifer for all its water needs. It has a history of resourceful stewardship of its groundwater resources as demonstrated by the dedicated personnel in the Water Department who were instrumental in tracking down the source of the TCE contamination. I think together we can continue to protect this critical resource. I am happy to answer any questions via email and would be willing to attend the meeting on December 8, if needed. Bob -- --------------------------------------- Robert M. Newton Professor Emeritus Department of Geosciences Smith College Northampton, MA 01063 Reappointments to City Positions City Solicitor - 12/31/2024 Mark Tanner City Tax Collector - 12/31/2024 Carol Veto City Treasurer - 12/31/2024 Jennifer Gallant Reappointments to Committees/Boards Affordable and Fair Housing - 12/31/2024 Kate Shapiro 1. Why are you interested in serving (continuing to serve) on this committee/board? I have extensive experience in affordable housing and seek to enhance Easthampton’s housing equity and inclusion. I believe that my knowledge of affordable housing is an asset to this committee. 2. In what ways are you able to contribute to this committee? (professional/personal experience different perspective, skills) The following experiences provide me substantial knowledge of this area, knowledge that enhances the committee: ● Director of Property Manager for Housing Resource Management ● Housing Specialist at Wayfinders in which I started a pilot project that supported individuals with Section 8 move to areas of higher opportunity ● Director of the Tenancy Preservation Program ● Manager of the Court Service Center ● Lastly, I managed all of the housing stock for the Department of Mental Health Hampshire Site Office from 2018-2021 3. What are ways you engage with the Easthampton community? (volunteerism, school involvement, meetings/events, school involvement, social media, etc.) This committee is my primary way of giving back to the Easthampton Community which is why I’m seeking reappointment. Endorsement Hi Lindsey, So sorry for the delay! Kate is GREAT!! A fantastic member of the Housing Partnership - she has a professional background in affordable and fair housing, is a very engaged member, always has great ideas and perspectives. I encourage the Appointments Committee to recommend that she be reappointed. Thanks, --Janna (Tetreault), Chair Agricultural Commission - 12/31/2024 Kasey Corsello BOH - 12/31/2022 Aimee Petroskyj BPW - 12/31/2024 Steven Lytwyn Conservation Commission - 12/31/2024 Julianne Busa JULIANNE BUSA 89 Maple Street • Easthampton, MA 01027 December 5, 2021 Lindsey Rothschild Appointments Committee Easthampton City Council City of Easthampton 50 Payson Avenue Easthampton, MA 01027 Dear Councilor Rothschild: I am writing in response to your questions regarding my interest in reappointment to the Easthampton Conservation Commission. I have served on the Conservation Commission since 2016, shortly after moving to Easthampton. I am an ecologist with over 15 years of project management, research, and communications experience. I received my PhD in 2009, focusing on forest and biodiversity conservation as it relates to economic development. I currently work as a project manager and senior environmental scientist with local engineering firm, Fuss & O’Neill, where my specialties are climate resilience and stormwater management. Wetlands permitting often comes into play in my work. As such my experience and professional background are directly relevant to my service on the Conservation Commission. I have a strong understanding of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and how it interacts with other permitting processes, the intricacies of site development and stormwater management projects, and also the underlying ecological processes and potential environmental impacts at stake when we are considering permit requests. Over my six years on the Conservation Commission, I have been a dedicated Commissioner with a strong attendance record and have added value to the Commission, in particular because of my detailed understanding of the regulations, experience with stormwater systems design and site planning/engineering, invasive species knowledge, and knowledge of culverts and the Massachusetts Stream Crossing Standards. I am also trained in wetland delineation and soil science, which is valuable for site visits and confirming wetland mapping on sites that come before the Commission for consideration. In addition to my service on the Conservation Commission, I am currently a member of the Solar Ordinance Committee. I have been active in various planning processes and meetings in the City relative to the downtown planning project and school reuse discussions. In my professional role with Fuss & O’Neill, I also work closely with the DPW and Planning departments on climate resilience through the state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Grant program and have been a key member of the team working on Green Infrastructure Master Planning and the Cherry Street Green Infrastructure project. As a resident, I deeply value these varied opportunities to engage directly in my community and the decision-making and planning processes that impact local residents and our environments. I look forward to continuing to serve Easthampton as a member of the Conservation Commission. Sincerely, Julianne Busa Deborah August Hello Councilor Rothschild and Councilors, I am very interested in continuing to serve on the Conservation Commission! It has been a very interesting and captivating learning experience, which I very much enjoy, while learning all about Conservation and by serving with this knowledgeable, respected and experienced Commission and for the City of Easthampton. I feel very honored to be part of this group. Being on this Commission is how I am able to help serve our community to help implement right actions to protect and preserve our precious waters, habitats, open spaces and the land around us. I attend site visits as I am able, help review the Meeting Minutes and have plenty of questions for our meetings by studying the Agenda topics and by taking classes from MACC to further my knowledge in this area. I have also attended every meeting during my first appointment time on the Commission. Some of my perspectives come from our locally family - owned/operated seafood restaurant business, The Original Jack August's Seafood Restaurant, where I worked for many years in many areas of the business, from cooking to office work until it closed. My family also lives on a 40 - acre property that was once a dairy cattle farm run by my father and grandfather, both businesses were in Northampton. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State College (now University) and also studied at UMASS. I am interested in all animal and land/water causes. Justice and fairness and helping others is very important to me. I am happy to discuss and answer any questions that anyone has about any of my experiences. Since living in Easthampton for the past 24 years, with my property abutting the largest track of undeveloped land in the City, I have learned to watch nature as it is and have become very aware of all kinds of animals, trees and plants and the need for safe habitat, preservation, clean water, and land uses for all. Since being on the Commission, I have become more aware of the City's needs and have been wanting to learn more about the City's agendas and meetings and focus on watching and attending other City meetings, virtually, (had previously attended in person) and by watching the meetings for the City, on Easthampton Media, social media and the local cable channel. I am an intelligent, generous, sensitive, kind, intuitive, honest, empathic, hard - working individual with great attention to details and investigative skills. I very much appreciate your time and consideration on my reappointment. Thank you, Deborah August COA - 12/31/2024 Charles Conner Patrick Brough Joseph Banas Endorsement of all 3 Reappointments Thanks Lindsey The three individuals up for reappointment are very valuable members of the COA board. Chuck Connor and Pat Brough are fairly new members and represent the business community on the board. They both bring a very valuable perspective to the board. Joe Banas is also a very strong and involved member of the board. As you may know, Joe was very involved in the implementation off the Senior Tax Work Off Program. I strongly support the reappointment of all three of these individuals to the board. Also, just checking to see if you received the form for my reappointment to the board. I dropped it off at the Mayor's office about a week ago. Thanks again Tom (Brown), Chair CRC - 12/31/2024 Rebecca Passa Emily Britton Here you go! 1. A welcoming community is one in which I would like to live for a long time. In some ways, I believe that there is no more important work than that of helping to strengthen connections between people and promote acceptance and fairness and equity. I am aware of implicit bias as well as systemic racism, and know that those two forces are extremely difficult to change. I believe that a community which makes even the slightest in-roads toward attempting to build connections between people is one which is an ethical and healthy one. The idea of a city committee working on this is surely relatively new (in the span of centuries) and then, working within a system which has systemic racism built in because of the larger society around it is obviously difficult. I am impressed by Mayor LaChapelle for putting effort toward this, in all the ways she has thus far, and I am dedicated to helping grow that effort. 2. I’ve co-chaired white ally groups on and off since graduate school, currently doing so for my current employer’s Psychology Training Committee (I am a clinical psychologist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Leeds). I am trained to facilitate, but in person - I cannot claim to be a skilled facilitator in the current online medium, in part because I still work face-to-face at the hospital. I have not enjoyed the online medium, since we were forced to meet in that way, but am sticking with it. I want to contribute by being a listener and helping steer the conversation back to opportunities for those who want to speak. 3. I attend many arts and music events, including some at the high school where children of friends have performed, but have only volunteered for Cultural Chaos, and on this committee. Previously I attended some of the meetings of the group which was working to preserve fair treatment of immigrants in the city. My daily work is with the federal government, and have done outreach for some of their causes (ie. suicide prevention). Emily Britton Maragaret Kierstein EDIC - 12/31/2024 Cassie Eckhof Endorsement Cassie Eckhof is a thoughtful, organized, well-connected, driven human being who cares a lot about her relatively newly adopted favorite city, and I love having her on EDIC. The vacant storefront ordinance work would have gone nowhere fast without her dedication to it. I urge you to reappoint her! Thanks for your attention and for the opportunity to sing her praises, Gwynne -- Gwynne E. Morrissey (Chair) Nash Pond Committee - 12/31/2024 Elaine Wood Hi Lindsey, Well this is new.....lol. I've been on the committee since 2013 and never had to do this before.. I'm up to my eyeballs with the Whobalation tomorrow. I'll reply to this hopefully on Monday. Lainey Marylou Dodge Parks & Rec - 12/31/2024 Eric Poulin Hi Lindsey--thanks for reaching out. I'm interested in reappointment to the Parks and Recreation Commission as Nonotuck Park and Daley Field are perhaps the two places on Earth most dear to my heart (side note--my father has a memorial in the park and Daley Field was actually named after my great-uncle). I worked for the Parks Department for many years as a young man in a variety of capacities, so I feel like I have a deep understanding of the importance of the work they do. As Commissioners, I feel we have a great responsibility to be thoughtful stewards of the parks and all green spaces in town. I think it's incredible the variety of recreational opportunities the Parks Department offers to all citizens of Easthampton, and I'm excited to possibly help continue to contribute to this recent growth. The Parks and Recreation Department has a number of important initiatives they are working on in upcoming years, and it's essential to ensure that all stakeholders are consulted in the process. I believe I have a reputation as a strongly community-focused individual who has led initiatives that have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the John Chmura Toy Fund, as well as the Easthampton Community Center. I am a Professor of Library and Information Science and an academic administrator that manages a $30 million dollar annual budget, so I also have a strong sense of the fiscal responsibility that the Commission has with overseeing taxpayer dollars. Finally--if I may be so bold, I honestly think there are few people who love the parks in Easthampton more than I do. So many of my greatest memories with family and friends happened in these spaces, and I will do all I can to ensure that others can have similar experiences as I have. Please let me know if there are further questions or if I can provide more information on behalf of my candidacy to the Commission. Best, ep Robert Biardi Brian Hiltpold Endorsement of all 3 Lindsey, As far as the commission members for reappointment they are good Parks and Rec Commissioners who are hardworking and passionate about both passive and active recreation opportunities. Thank you again for reaching out. Happy Holidays. John Mason Parks and Recreation Planning Board - 12/31/2024 James Zarvis Councilor Rothschild, Here is the additional information you requested to inform your recommendations to the full city council: 1. Why are you interested in serving (continuing to serve) on this committee/board? Response) I consider it a civic duty to promote and support the city of Easthampton 2. In what ways are you able to contribute to this committee? (professional/personal experience different perspective, skills) Response) My many years of fair and unbiased adjudication, coupled with demonstrated deep institutional knowledge of Planning Board processes and the ability to model said skills for others, speak for themselves. 3. What are ways you engage with the Easthampton community? (volunteerism, school involvement, meetings/events, school involvement, social media, etc.) Response) Over the years I have done many things in this community such as Chairing or otherwise serving on several city boards, serving as the President of Easthampton Media, hosting fundraiser events for charities and creating awareness of this great city wherever I go. I continue to serve as vice chair of the Planning Board and have been privileged to play a small but important role in the revival of this old mill city into the thriving destination it is today. I have long stood in support of local businesses, the arts, and tourism in Easthampton. My message to your committee as you review all these names up for renewal is that while you do have many in your list today, The list is still not big enough. We have more work to do, and we must cherish those willing to stand up and help. Be well, JZ Jesse Belcher Timme Lindsey: Here’s my response to the items requested:  1. I have served on the Planning Board for approximately 10 years, with the last 8 or so (I believe) as chair. I continue to see this as a crucial role in the City and an interesting and rewarding way to serve my community. The Board, as currently constituted, is a wonderful collection of committed volunteers with a wide variety of professional and personal experience and I take great pleasure in working with them, along with our incredible Planning Department, to address all of the issues that come before us. I am grateful to have been appointed and reappointed now by 3 successive mayors and I hope to continue in this role. 2. Part of what I like about the Planning Board is the breadth of issues that present themselves in our meetings. I have a legal practice that currently includes municipal law and zoning law as large parts of my regular work. Taking that experience and education into Board meetings is invaluable. While I never offer legal opinions or represent myself as counsel for the Board or the City, my own experience both with dealing with local zoning ordinances in the region and with preparing and presenting permit applications in other communities gives me a unique perspective and allows me to better serve the City. 3. In addition to serving on the Planning Board, I have also been a board member and hockey coach for the Nonotuck Valley Hockey Association for the last 12 years. I have coached hockey players ranging from 3 years old to 19 years old and continue to coach in various capacities – while also serving as the coaching coordinator for the association. I have 2 children who have attended public schools in Easthampton since kindergarten and are currently a first-year and junior at EHS. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if I can be of further assistance. Thanks Jesse Jesse W. Belcher-Timme . ( Endorsement of James Zarvis Lindsey: I will pass on recommending myself for reappointment, but I did want to get on record regarding my vice chair, James Zarvis. James Zarvis has served on the Planning Board since approximately the same time I was appointed, approximately 10 years ago, and has been an incredible resource to me and the Board for all of that time. James has gladly served as my vice chair for (I believe) at least 8 years. This role is a thankless one, as it requires him to be ready to act as chair any time I have to recuse myself due to conflicts with my legal practice – something that comes up with some regularity. James is always ready and willing to jump in at those times and runs an excellent meeting when he assumes that role. In our years on the Board, James has consistently offered insightful and illuminating questions and comments and does a wonderful job of taking into account all of the various stakeholders when an issue comes before us. James is a wonderful asset for the City and the Planning Board and I am thrilled to have him continue in that capacity, not only as the current chair but also a resident of the City. I would strongly urge you to recommend his reappointment to the Planning Board. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks, Jesse Jesse W. Belcher-Timme ( Telecom Adv Com - 12/31/2024 Stan Diamond Hi everyone, This is my bad, but the committee in question should have been disbanded this year. The purpose of the committee was to produce a report, and that report has been produced. I'll go ahead and submit an amendment for the next meeting to do so. Best, Tom (peake), City Councilor Veterans Council - 12/31/2024 Thelma Issri Neil Hede