ORDER-2020-22 : A Resolution honoring John V. Scenna

Transcript (~7 min @ 3:14:50)

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▶ 3:14:49 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: so late tonight thank you thank you our next order on our agenda is order number two zero two zero dash two two a resolution honoring john shena this is sponsored by the president yes president

▶ 3:15:00 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: lerman thank you um if we could ask mr shena to please stay with us uh this evening thank you sir

▶ 3:15:11 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: um this this is a resolution as everyone here knows which we often would take up in the full board uh for immediate consideration but knowing that mr shena would be here with us this evening we chose to send it to committee um so that we could um publicly thank him for his service to the city for for a number of years as he is on his way out of Melrose so I guess I would ask madam chair if you wouldn't mind if we could since we aren't a suspension of rules still if I could join you up there and invite mr. Schatz as well to read this into the record if I have in the full board sure

▶ 3:16:11 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: thank you thank you all for the opportunity to read this this evening as As I think everyone here knows, this is Mr. Shenna's last meeting with us, given that he has been, he has accepted a position in Winfield. They're very lucky to have him over there after, I think, if we include your co-op days, 24 years with Melrose. I know, we even saw in the presentation this evening, how much work Ward 2 has benefited from Mr. Shenna. know that everyone on this board has also worked closely with him and benefited from his commitment to the city in each of the areas of the city so I am going to go ahead and read this into the record and then I will give you

▶ 3:17:01 Speaker 4: an opportunity to say something if you'd like to you don't have to this is a

▶ 3:17:04 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: resolution honoring John V Shenna Department of Public Works superintendent for his many years of service whereas John V Shenna began his career in 1995 as a co-op student from Merrimack College working in the engineering division of the Public Works Department in 1997 he graduated cum laude with a BS in civil engineering whereas filling his first professional position with the city as a staff engineer it was not long before he transitioned and began managing various department projects and special operations for then superintendent Joseph McKay whereas in 2000 John was promoted to deputy city engineer and quickly became an integral member of the of mayor's management team, in 2003 he was promoted again to director of operations and deputy city engineer. Whereas in this role, he was responsible for all operations of the department, it's eight divisions and 40 employees. He has managed the department's operations through several of the most historic snow and flood events recorded, and through several transitions required by financial budget cuts. Whereas additionally, together with the superintendent Robert Becerra, John actively assisted in the development, design, construction, and management of over $25 million in infrastructure improvements to the Melrose water, sewer, drain, roadway, park, and open space improvements. By making public works accessible, visible, and present in the community, John has been a stable fixture in the department and in its growth. Whereas in 2011, John was promoted to assistant superintendent, and in 2012 was promoted again to director of public works. He had led all functions of the reorganized department, including existing operations, municipal and school facilities, engineering, and administration. For the past 24 years, John's dedication to the city of Moros has been unwavering. Be it resolved that we, the members of the Board of Aldermen, hereby honor John Chenna's dedication and unyielding commitment to our city, his unerring stewardship will be missed. It further resolves that on this 29th day of August in the year 2019, a copy of this resolution be spread upon the records of the Board of Aldermen.

▶ 3:19:29 Speaker 2: Thank you, and thank you to everyone. Mixed emotions, tomorrow's going to be a tough day when I walk away for the last time. I have to say that I've come to work and I learned very quickly that to succeed in the public sector, you have to put the community first. We always try to make those decisions, we try to instill that in the department. That's really how I survived as long as I did. I always tried to come and put Melrose first, try to make our decisions based on what was best for the community.

▶ 3:20:05 Speaker 2: And the presentation tonight showed a slide that I'm quite proud of and that I'm going to keep a copy of. And as you go from Wakefield into Melrose and then from Malden into Melrose, We can't help but look at what collectively we've done over the last few decades, and I'll never forget it. It's been great. Thank you to everyone, and thank you for this. Thank you.

▶ 3:21:05 Speaker 2: Thanks, Sandra. It's really this, I'm sure. I'll call it later, if you don't follow what I did. Ta-da. Ta-da.

▶ 3:21:18 Speaker 2: Huggabuggles, huggabuggles, huggabuggles.

▶ 3:21:20 Jennifer L. Lemmerman: Yeah. Make a motion to place the order on file.

▶ 3:21:23 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: second motion me to place the order on file by president Lemmerman seconded by

▶ 3:21:32 Kate Lipper-Garabedian: alderman Mortimer all in favor aye opposed we shall do that that brings us to the last order on our agenda tonight order number 2020 dash 18 and appropriation from contract stabilization eight four zero four two dash five nine zero zero zero zero in the amount of sixty one thousand one $138.14 to various accounts as set forth herein. This appropriation is to fund year one of the recently settled local 272 clerical union contract.