APPT-2025-35 : Appointment of Chris Cinella, 69 Cranmore Road, to the Melrose Public Library Board of Trustees, to fill the remainder of Paul Fahey's three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February, 2027.

Transcript (~5 min @ 1:36:18)

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▶ 1:35:41 Kimberly Vandiver: Um, at this time, I will motion by unanimous consent to approve the meeting minutes of January 27th. Um, seeing no objection, those minutes are now approved. Uh, tonight we have one appointment and 10 reappointments before us. Um, in the interest of, um, time for the appointee who is in attendance and the mayor, um, we'll go through that appointment and then take a recess back to the prior meeting that hasn't concluded. Uh, so the first, um, uh, the f the appointment on our agenda is, um, ID number 1, 2, 4 2 0 appointment of Chris Ella 69 Kenmore Road to the Melrose Public Library Board of Trustees to fill the remainder of Paul Fahe three year term, said term to expire in the last day of February, 2027. Um, so if the mayor and, uh, Mr. Ella would like to come up and, um, address us, be more than welcome. Thank you.

▶ 1:36:42 Jen Grigoraitis: Good evening, council and Planning Board. Nice to see you all. Um, I'm here tonight to present Christella for your consideration as an appointee to the, um, library board of trustees. Paul Fahey, who had served in this role, moved out of Melrose, um, and we, and we're grateful for his service, but we need someone to complete the term. I think many of you are familiar with Mr. Ella. He previously served two terms on the council, including, um, two times as council president, as appropriations chair. He's raising his family in Melrose where he also grew up. He owns a business on Main Street, has a professional background in financial management. And during the process for bonding for the library, was very effective at advocating for that project to move forward. Um, the board of library trustees has a great deal of oversight over the library, um, by statute. So there's both the financial management of funding that comes in from outside of the city and also developing policies and procedures for that building. And there's gonna be a big need for that as we move into a new and larger space. I think Mr. Ella brings a great deal of knowledge about how processes and procedures work, given his time on a legislative body, and also obviously bring substantial, uh, financial management experience. So I'm really grateful for his willingness to serve. I called him after he was one day beyond his one year cooling off period. It's time To get back in the saddle. Yeah. Yeah.

▶ 1:37:57 Christopher Cinella: Thank you. You're welcome. I was about two years and two minutes outside of that window when I got the call. And, um, you know, I'm happy to step up and, and serve like many of you. Um, volunteerism is in, in My, my Blood, so I'll open it up to any questions. I know you got a busy night, but it's good to be back. Good to see you guys.

▶ 1:38:18 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, counselor Jamine,

▶ 1:38:20 Maya Jamaleddine: I'll, um, do you usually thank you for, you know, for continuing your service? Uh, do you usually accept all requests? Usually, Would you consider running back?

▶ 1:38:33 Speaker 7: I'm gonna defer you to my, um, my wife on that one. I know

▶ 1:38:37 Maya Jamaleddine: It'll be enough. Well, uh, we do miss you here. We, you, I know. I wanted to thank you for all the services that you've done and what you are considering to, uh, give, uh, knowing that we are, uh, dealing with a lot of challenges. Um, and, but, um, I trust that you will be able to, uh, take that challenge. Uh, so thank you so much.

▶ 1:38:59 Speaker 7: Thank you. Any other counselors?

▶ 1:39:01 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, counselor, uh, vice Chair Chetty,

▶ 1:39:06 Manjula Karamcheti: Welcome. It's great to see you back here. Um, I guess I would just love to hear a little bit about why you're excited to be on the, the library ward.

▶ 1:39:15 Christopher Cinella: You know, I, uh, like I said, I'm happy to step up when asked. And, um, I know one of the projects they have coming forward is gonna be looking at their bylaws. That's something I've done both on this body, um, with the Chamber of Commerce and with Rotary. So I have a little experience with that. Um, my grandmother was a librarian out in Lee Mass, and so it kind of runs in my, my Blood and, uh, oh, I'm happy to, I'm just happy to, to serve. And I was a big supporter as some of you that looking around the horseshoe that was on with me at the time. I think it was unanimous vote, uh, to move that that forward. Um, but, uh, but yeah,

▶ 1:39:55 Speaker 8: My mother-in-law was a librarian. So rock on. And I feel weirdly compelled to ask you what your favorite book is, but

▶ 1:40:01 Christopher Cinella: Well, uh, just recently finished, um, book by by Annie Jacobson Nuclear War. It's a pretty good read, so check it out.

▶ 1:40:11 Kimberly Vandiver: All set. Um, and, uh, councilor Occhio,

▶ 1:40:16 Speaker 9: I just wanna say thank you for stepping up and make a motion for to recommend. Second. Second,

▶ 1:40:20 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, motion to Recommend by Councilor Occhio. Uh, second by everyone else. And second by, I am not sure who I heard first. Uh, counselor, it's one of us CAR jd. Yep. Um, and, uh, all in favor? Any opposed? Um, okay. That, um, will be recommended to, um, the full council. Uh, you're welcome to attend that meeting, but you do not need to. Um, thank you so much for, for being willing to serve and coming before us tonight. Thank

▶ 1:40:53 Speaker 7: You. Thank

▶ 1:40:54 Robb Stewart: You, Madam Chair. I'll make a motion to recess. Second