City Council - Appointment Committee

Appointments Committee Meeting In-person meeting at 50 Payson Ave., 2nd floor Small Conference Room Meeting Minutes: March 4, 2024 Approval of the minutes, none Councilor Riley called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm. At room #2 Public Speak Time: None Present: Chair Councilor Riley, Councilor Gomez, Councilor Smith Also in Attendance: Donna Cuipylo, Leya Strode(remote by phone), Evan Garber, Ronald Albertson New Business: Leya Strode Board of Public Works Dec. 31, 2026 Councilor Riley started the meeting by talking to Leya and asking questions about this appointment, Leya stated to the appointments committee that she moved to Easthampton 3 years ago and moved from Oregon to Massachusetts, Leya stated to the committee that she was going to be fair and going to makes all the decisions based on her knowledge and with the info she got in front of her at the time, Leya is an engineer and she talks about her professional career at Oregon and in Massachusetts, Leya is committed to work with the other member of the board of public work to evaluate all situation and make the best decisions for our community. The motion was made by Councilor Smith and seconded by Councilor Gomez for the appointment of Leya Strode to the Board of Public Works on Dec. 31, 2026, in favor 3-0 Donna Cuipylo Affordable & Fair Housing Partnership Dec. 31, 2025 Councilor Riley asked Donna to introduce herself to the committee and in her introduction she stated to the committee that she moved to Easthampton in 2019 and she and her husband moved from DC, she studied sociology and she studies law and became a lawyer, she used to work with kids, she stated that she has a lot of experience working on housing due to her career, working with the youth she saw as a first needed housing and the need of housing for the community, She talked about the need for housing for the general population and she wants to help deal with this issue, Councilor Riley complements her skills and experience and recognized her importance in this new role, The motion was made by Councilor Smith and seconded by Councilor Gomez, the vote was in favor 3-0 Evan Garber , Ronald Albertson Manhan Rail Trail Committee Dec. 31, 2025 Evan Graner moved to Easthampton in 2023, Evan graduated from Umass Amherst, Evan grew up in Chicoppe and after he graduated he decided to stay in Wmass, he works as a lawyer and works a lot with nonprofit organizations, since he moved he always wanted a help the community and that's why he applies to help with theManhan trial. Ronald came to Wmass right after the 911 attacks, Ronald moved from Texas to this area, and they moved to Wmass looking for a place that can enjoy all four seasons, Ronal has 3 educational degrees and he talked about his work experience and his personal life. He was a pastor and he retired as a pastor in 2012. The motion was made by Councilor Smith and seconded by Councilor Gomez, the vote was in favor 3-0 The motion to adjourn was made by Councilor Smith and seconded by Councilor Gomez, The vote was 3-0 in favor The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 pm Respectfully submitted by Councilor Gomez