ORDER-2022-14 : Appointment of James Oosterman, 54 Ellis Farm Lane, to the Affordable Housing Trust, for a two-year term, said term to expire the last day of January 2023.

Transcript (~4 min @ 1:40:30)

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▶ 1:40:34 Maya Jamaleddine: six yes thank you um next we have we have order 2022-14 appointment of james usterman 54 else farm lane to the affordable housing trust for a two years term set term to expire the last day of january 2023 and this order is offered by mayor paul brother again thank you madam chair

▶ 1:40:53 Paul Brodeur: for those of you been in the community for any length of time you're familiar with the many ways in which mr usman has contributed to the community from his active membership in rotary to his long service at the Melrose Cooperative Bank, both in a senior role as a vice president and chief lending officer, but also being very connected to their good work throughout the community through their foundation and prior to the formation of that foundation. If you know Jim, you also know that he has been involved in affordable housing advocacy in Melrose for over 20 years. He was an initial member of the Affordable Housing Corporation, if memory serves, and also has a great deal of lending experience, knows an awful lot about the marketplace, but also the community we seek to serve here in Melrose. Jim also had long service on the Melrose Housing authority, but also serves on the board of Mystic Valley Elder Services, which I think is really critically important because one area that we need to focus on in terms of offering housing options to members of our community is certainly our aging population, both from an affordability standpoint and in certain respects from a production standpoint. So I couldn't be more delighted that Jim has agreed to serve and I offer his nomination for your

▶ 1:42:35 Maya Jamaleddine: consideration thank you I would like to echo mayor brothers words and appreciate you stepping out and everything you've been doing for our community the floor is now yours if you would like to speak before we hold on that disorder no thank

▶ 1:42:55 Speaker 2: Chairperson Tremalli, I'm honored to be asked. The Affordable Housing Trust is something that the Affordable Housing Task Force started advocating for many years ago. I've been known, if Denise Gaffey knows one person who's been advocating for it, it's been me pushing with other people on our committee saying, let's move this along. And we're really excited to have this finally finally happened i long advocate for not just creating new affordable housing in the city but also doing what we can to maintain the affordability levels of housing for a lot of people whether they're struggling for the rent ownership opportunities wherever it might be um so i'm looking forward to making the best use of the city's money in this fund and to make sure

▶ 1:43:48 Maya Jamaleddine: that it gets put to the best use possible thank you and is there any um councillor

▶ 1:43:56 Mark Garipay: thank you chairman uh chairwoman uh jamal dean uh i'd like to just thank mr usterman for volunteering for this appointment he's been a long uh member of the community uh very active for many years and his experience uh will be a huge benefit to the morris housing trust so thank

▶ 1:44:22 Jack Eccles: you thank you for volunteering thank you counselor echo um i think i would like to also thank mr easterman for stepping up and if no one else has anything to add i'd make a motion to recommend for

▶ 1:44:33 Maya Jamaleddine: passage at this time madam chair second we have a motion made by councillor eccles seconded by president sinela um mr clerk can you please call the role chair Jamaleddine yes vice chair migliorelli

▶ 1:44:59 Speaker 2: yes counselor eccles yes counselor stewart yes counselor thomas yes president sinella yes