APPT-2025-17 : Appointment of John Tozza to the Beebe Estate Board of Trustees

Transcript (~6 min @ 1:26)

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▶ 1:13 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, seeing no one here to speak? If there's no objection, I will motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. Seeing none, we are now closed for public comment at this ti uh, uh, tonight we have three orders before us. The first order before us is the re is the appointment of John Taza to the BB Estate Board of Trustees. Um, and we have, uh, Ms. Gimmick, uh, from the administration to speak with us. Please, uh, introduce the candidate and, and welcome. Sure.

▶ 1:47 Speaker 1: Thank you. Good evening counselors. Happy New Year. Nice to see everyone again. Um, I'm here for the mayor this evening. Um, just so you all know, she's attending the first meeting of the affordable, um, housing Trust, which I think some of you were on the council a couple years ago when you guys, um, got that up and running. So we're happy to be standing that up tonight. So I'm filling in. Um, I'm really thrilled to introduce John Taza, whom I've known personally since 2016 as the mayor's. Um, next appointee for the BB board of, um, BB Estate Board of Trustees. Um, John was then on the board of directors for the Melrose Chamber of Commerce. So I reported to him in my role as the executive director, and, um, stood a ton for the community, um, as well as being part of Melrose Rotary Club, um, part of the bridge, uh, friends of Memorial Hall. I'm sure there's lots of things that I'm missing. Um, and in particular, John's going to be filling an important role, um, for the trustees acting as the building manager. So that's part of the arrangement that the trustees have to maintain and manage the BB estate for the city. Um, and that's a role that's been pretty vacant for a while. I think the existing trustees have done the best that they can, kind of responding to tenants concerns, um, making sure that maintenance gets done accordingly. That's not handled by the DPW, um, in case people were not aware, um, proactively looking at main maintenance issues that need to, um, get done for, for the estate. And so, um, given John's, um, you know, experience, um, he ran Marty's furniture for a long time, which I neglected to say, um, which was at 99 Washington Street, um, also had a lot of tenants in that building. So, um, not only was he a business owner, but you were a building manager by default as well. So, um, we think he brings a lot of valuable experience that he can add in that role on the trustees. So, and,

▶ 3:42 Kimberly Vandiver: uh, thank you for that. Mr. Taza. Would you, uh, we'd love for you to share anything regarding your background, anything additional you'd like to share with us before we open the floor for questions? Yeah,

▶ 3:51 Speaker 2: I think Lauren kind of covered everything. Um, I think my biggest thing is I have a lot of experience in building management, owning the building that I was also the owner of Marty's furniture, the, uh, industrial building down there, which I did have a lot of tenants and had to maintain the building in the property. Um, other than being in a lot of different boards and organizations within Melrose for 40 years, I think I'm qualified for this particular job.

▶ 4:15 Kimberly Vandiver: Wonderful. Uh, any questions from the committee? Councilor, uh, vice chair, Karen Chetty?

▶ 4:21 Manjula Karamcheti: I actually don't have any questions between Ms. Mick's introduction, looking over your documents. Um, I don't really have any questions. I just really wanna thank you for stepping forward. You've obviously done so much in the community already. Um, just grateful that you're willing to serve in this capacity as well. I guess the only question I would have is like, do you have a vision for the property? Anything you're thinking about?

▶ 4:47 Speaker 2: It's kind of ha kind of hard to have a vision. I mean, I've, I've been to the property many, many times over the years, and I've been to two of their board meetings, their trustees meetings and kind of new at it. But I see a lot of possibilities for the building as far as in the future, as far as rentals and whatnot. We've talked a lot about that on the board meetings that I've been at unofficially, of course, not being a trustee yet until possibly tonight. But, um, yeah, I don't really have any strong visions to be honest with you, other than total renovations, you know, going forward, paint, there's a lot of painting that has to be done. There's things on the property that have to be done that I've already seen. So that's pretty much, I can sum it up to that way. Well,

▶ 5:25 Manjula Karamcheti: It sounds good to me. Thank you so much.

▶ 5:29 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. Uh, uh, councilor Garipay. Oh, excuse me. Uh, president Elli.

▶ 5:34 Leila Migliorelli: Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. I just wanted to also say thank you. I was very excited to see, um, your interest in this con considering how much you've done for this community. I think it's a huge asset for the BB estate to have you part of, um, part of this commission. So thank you so much for stepping forward.

▶ 5:50 Speaker 2: Thank you for your comments. Appreciate it. Mm-hmm.

▶ 5:53 Speaker 1: That's it. Uh, thank you Madam Chair.

▶ 5:55 Mark Garipay: I just wanted to, um, thank John for, um, Mr. Taza for stepping up. Um, I've known him for quite a, quite a many years. Um, the community has always had a need, and as you can see by his resume, he's always, um, he's always stepped up to, to, to assist. And, um, you'll not find a nicer, uh, a nicer individual. And I look forward to, uh, supporting this when it comes to the full council. Hopefully I jumped the gun. Sorry.

▶ 6:25 Speaker 3: On that note, I'd make a motion to recommend. Second. Second.

▶ 6:29 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. Uh, motion to recommend by Councilor Chetty and seconded by Counselor

▶ 6:36 Speaker 1: Stewart. We both Said yes. Sorry, uh,

▶ 6:40 Kimberly Vandiver: um, on discussion. Uh, I believe this is voice vote. Uh, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Uh, this order will be brought to the next full council meeting with a recommendation for passage. Um, Mr. Taza, you do not need to attend. You're welcome to if you wish to. Um, and thank you for coming and, and sharing with us tonight. And thank you for Thank you all. Appreciate