Appointment of Greg Pagnini, 79 Burrell Street, to the Board of Registrar of Voters.

Transcript (~4 min @ 30:12)

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▶ 30:14 Speaker 2: That's exactly how I would've Thank you so much. Thank you.

▶ 30:19 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. The, uh, the next, so we took that out of order. Uh, let's see. Uh, president, merely,

▶ 30:26 Leila Migliorelli: I'll make another motion to take the other appointment out of order. So I make a motion to, uh, take ID 1, 2, 4, 5, 5 out of order.

▶ 30:35 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. Um, second motion to take id. 1, 2, 4, 5, 5 out of order by President mere Exofficio with a second from Councillor Occhio. This is, uh, on discussion. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? So this, uh, that motion passage. This is the appointment of, uh, Greg Pini, 79 Borough Street to the Board of Registrar of Voters.

▶ 30:59 Jen Grigoraitis: Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, so I'm pleased to put Mr. Pini before you tonight for your consideration to the Board of Registrar Voters. And just to, um, give a little preference because this is a body that's somewhat unique. Um, the Board of Registrar of Voters obviously oversee our elections. It consists of three members as well as the city clerk that is all governed by state law. It is one of the few public bodies that is actually required by law to be partisan. So we have to have an even balance of registered Republicans and registered Democrats. Um, unfortunately, folks who are unenrolled in a party are not able to serve through state law, and that is actually the majority of Melrose voters. So, um, Bridget Alverson resigned from the board in November, and her term, um, timed out at the end of February. So Mr. Pini would be replacing her term. She is a registered Democrat. So I have, uh, had reached out to the Democratic City Committee in accordance with state law for a list of, um, potential nominees, which I do not believe they were able to produce a formal list. There's a vote required in their meeting. Um, so I reached out to Mr. Pini to see about his willingness to serve, and I'm really grateful to him for stepping up. He is a member of the community, has two children of the Melrose Public Schools, is active in youth sports, and is also a lawyer with substantive experience in municipal and school issues. And I think, I know you all know better than, um, anyone given your role with the Clerk's office, how complex, um, the regulatory environment is around local and state and federal elections and grow. So more so each day as we've added things like vote by mail and early voting. So I think having someone with his knowledge of the law and how it can be interpreted and best used to ensure that we're providing equal opportunity to voting for all of our residents, um, will be a huge benefit. So I'm really appreciative of him for stepping up again. It only took like one phone call.

▶ 32:46 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, thank you. Um, before we turn it over to the counselors, Mr. Pini, anything you'd like to add?

▶ 32:51 Speaker 5: Um, I don't have anything to add.

▶ 32:52 Speaker 4: I'd be happy to, to answer any questions that you folks have for me though.

▶ 32:56 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. Any, anything from the counselors committee?

▶ 33:01 Speaker 1: Councillor, Kyra? Um,

▶ 33:03 Speaker 2: You have an extensive resume, so you look like you're qualified for the position. Dress the part, dress the part. Um, again, we appreciate, you know, stepping up it's volunteer position and, um, like everybody else here. So, um, thank you. And we'd like to make a motion to recommend. Second.

▶ 33:24 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. Motion to recommend from Councillor Fiocchi. And second by President Moore exofficio. Anybody on discussion? Does anyone have another language to speak?

▶ 33:37 Speaker 3: I don't, unfortunately. I'm sorry. It disappoints.

▶ 33:39 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, so all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? So that motion passes, uh, to the full council with a motion to recommend, uh, you're welcome to attend, but you don't need to. Um, and thank you so much for, for coming and being willing to serve on this important, um, do this important work. Thank you. Thank you, thank you.