Reappointment of Cathy Gulino, 25 Apple Hill Road, to the Melrose Board of Assessors for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2029.

Transcript (~3 min @ 1:33)

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▶ 1:17 Ryan Williams: See no objections. Public comment is closed. So we have three reappointments on the agenda tonight. And I wanted to make a note that I have worked to make sure that when we have reappointments, that we have folks come before us as much as possible, and they've been very gracious. So far, we've added 1,000 on that, and we've had every person come on board to speak with us. For today, we had two folks who couldn't make it. They had extenuating circumstances, and I'll describe those when we get to their appointments. But we do have, first up, ID number 2026-356, the reappointment of Cathy Gulino of 25 Apple Hill Road to the Melrose Board of Assessors for a three-year term, set to expire on the last day of February of 2029. And Cathy was able to come join us, so could you please come up to the table and tell us a little bit about your work with the Board of Assessors and what you hope for the year ahead?

▶ 2:08 Speaker 1: Hello. Hi. So I've been on the Board of Assessors since 1998. She was just teasing me again. So we meet about once or twice a month, except for the summer. Abatement season's busier. We support the assessor, Sarah. She presents to us abatements and any ongoing issues, things that are going to the appellate tax board. Just any decision she has to make, she kind of bounces it off us.

▶ 2:47 Speaker 1: So I was in the real estate field. I worked for Patriot Appraisal, Commercial Appraisal for bank, all that stuff.

▶ 2:57 Ryan Williams: Thanks. Is there anything that you want to convey to the council or the counselors while you have us here regarding the work of the Board of Assessors?

▶ 3:07 Speaker 1: I enjoy working with Sarah and Lee, and I feel I have knowledge and can offer the city my services- Thank you ... with the knowledge I have.

▶ 3:20 Ryan Williams: Yeah. Thank you very much. So counselors, questions, comments, discussion? Vice Chair Vandiver?

▶ 3:26 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. Thank you for your work serving in this role. Is there any way that we could better support you, the city could better support you, or any challenges you see in the upcoming term?

▶ 3:38 Speaker 1: Not the board itself. No. I think the department's funded adequately, so. Okay. I think there's some education maybe that Sarah would've liked, but you know. Oh, education as far as- Yeah ... training budget? Well, yeah, the assessing classes and things like that. Yeah. Okay. Good to know. Thank you.

▶ 4:12 Speaker 2: Yeah. Councilor Finocchiaro?

▶ 4:14 Cal Finocchiaro: Thank you for serving for so long. Oh, thank you. I just want to make a motion to recommend. All right. Thank you.

▶ 4:20 Speaker 1: I second.

▶ 4:22 Ryan Williams: Hmm. Motion to recommend by Councilor Finocchiaro, seconded by Councilor Kohl. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Aye. It's unanimous. None opposed. All right. Thank you. Pass this. Thank you very much. All right. Thank you. You don't have to be here for the council meeting, obviously. Thanks. Okay, so for ID 2026-345, this is Cathy Mercer of 466 Pleasant Street. She's being reappointed to the Melrose Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term to expire the last day of February 2029. So Ms. Mercer very much wanted to join us, but she teaches Mondays and absolutely can't make it on Mondays. So given this is the last Monday that we have to move these appointments along, we're going to proceed without her.