ORDER-2019-14 : Appointment of Kevin J. Erb, 16 Everett St., to the Historic District Commission for a three-year term; said term to end on the last day of February 2019.

Transcript (~6 min @ 26:20)

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▶ 26:18 Speaker 6: Do you know how hard it is to sit here and not vote? I really was ready to say yes quite a few times.

▶ 26:23 Speaker 8: Just kidding.

▶ 26:28 Speaker 4: The.

▶ 26:32 Peter D. Mortimer: Order 2019-14. Appointment of Kevin J. Herb, 16 Everett Street, to the Historic District Commission for a three year term. Said term to end on the last day of February 2019. Good evening, Mr. Erb. Good evening. Thank you for coming this evening. Mayor Inferno, please continue.

▶ 26:54 Gail Infurna: Thank you very much. It's my pleasure to introduce Kevin Erb to this board. I've known Kevin personally for, gosh, about, well, 25 years or so, as he was a Ward 5 constituent. Kevin was raised in the historic town of Guilfid, Connecticut, which has 257 historic sites, including the church he was married in with his wife, Joy, who is in the back row today, which was built back in 1643. Our Victorian buildings may seem pretty modern by comparison, but having grown up surrounded by historic homes and public buildings, Kevin is aware of how important it is to preserve not just the structures themselves, but the look and the feel of the area as a whole. He has lived in Melrose for over 30 years, and during that time he has been an active and involved member of the community, coaching sports and participating in the Lions Club and other organizations. He is also a practicing attorney, so he will fill an essential role role on the Commission and his office is located just on the edge of the historic district so it is an area he literally

▶ 28:00 Peter D. Mortimer: sees every day Thank You Thank You mayor Perna mr. herb would you like to add

▶ 28:03 Speaker 9: anything to that I would just like to say that I consider this privilege and an honor to be considered for this position as madam mayor said I grew up in a small town that that had an incredible number of historic buildings the Henry Whitfield house was built in 1639 it's the oldest stone house in New England but there are many houses in Guilford that are built in the 1700s and they weren't museums people lived in them and it's that ability to have it alive and preserved at the same time which is something that I think Melrose is striving to do and I'd like to be a part of that thank you very much well

▶ 28:45 Peter D. Mortimer: All said, is there a motion, please? Motion to recommend for passage. We have a motion to recommend from Alderman Lemmerman, duly seconded by Alderman Boycelle. Is there any discussion? President Zwerchel, please, followed by Alderman McMaster. President Zwerchel, please.

▶ 28:58 Michael P. Zwirko: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Erb, I see you almost every Friday night when football games are in session. And I know that you've been a longstanding member of the Lions Club. And just at this time, I was hopeful, because I did see some recent news in the papers about the Lions Club and philanthropic efforts and I was just hoping that you could kind of share not only the charge of the Lions Club but your role with the Lions Club and what

▶ 29:22 Speaker 9: things that you've done over the years on behalf of the Lions Club well I got involved in the Lions Club many years ago and it's just another aspect of living in Melrose that turned out to be something that is a real joy for me I I get to see young kids demonstrate the kind of things that sometimes we lose track of. This happens on a regular basis. We sell a can of soda for $1.50. It gives you $2, and you give them 50 cents change. Every once in a while, somebody will make a donation, and they're all together, and he says, what was that? He gives you an opportunity to explain to them that we're a charity, and we take every dime that we make, And we give it away, whether it's to Mass Eye and Ear, it could be to different programs. And they hear that. And then the next kid, he puts his 50 cents in. And after that, and you see demonstrated in this city, which is why I love this city so much, this kind of love that, you know, people share. And the Lions Club is something that is near and dear to my heart. We are looking for members if anyone wants to join. but the Lions Club has been in existence in Melrose for I believe 93 years now so again I guess old things just run in my blood and since you asked my daughter happens to live in Wakefield and she and her husband are the custodians of the Hartshorn house so you know I guess we have a love for things that are historic

▶ 31:03 Michael P. Zwirko: been old and thank you for that and the opportunity to advertise that you're seeking some memberships yes thank you so much thank you appreciate you and your members service on the Lions Club that's all I had this time mr. chairman

▶ 31:12 Peter D. Mortimer: Thank You presidents work Oh Shaw Alderman McMaster please Thank You mr.

▶ 31:15 Shawn M. MacMaster: chairman as the mayor said mr. herb is a longtime resident of Ward 5 it's nice to see a Ward 5 resident come before us this evening for one of the appointments that are before us so thank you for your willingness to step up please serve and look forward to getting to know you in the in the months ahead I also must say that I enjoyed reading your letter and it's obvious from reading your letter of interest and from hearing from you tonight that you really have an affinity for your boyhood town of Guilford and your interest in history and historical preservation is certainly palpable so I think you're going to be a great addition to the Historical Commission and again thank you for your service and I'm looking forward to supporting you tonight.

▶ 31:58 Peter D. Mortimer: Thank you, Alderman McMaster. Seeing no further Aldermen wishing to be heard at this time, we have a motion to recommend this appointment for passage made by Alderman Lemmerman and duly seconded by Alderman Boycelle. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, this appointment has been recommended to the full board for passage and will be passed at the Board of Aldermen tonight as in due course. You need not stay around as you've heard several times earlier.

▶ 32:27 Speaker 9: I'm free to leave.

▶ 32:29 Speaker 4: You are. You're free to go, sir.