APPT-2025-8 : Appointment of Gayle-Jean Angelo, 245 West Wyoming Avenue, Melrose, MA as District Director of Veterans’ Services

Transcript (~8 min @ 1:40)

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▶ 1:39 Manjula Karamcheti: Seeing no objections, public comment is now closed. We have one order on our agenda tonight. It's appointment 2025 dash eight, the appointment of Gail Jean Angelo, 2 45 West Wyoming Avenue, Melrose, mass. As District Director of Veteran Services, mayor Greg is here to present this candidate. So at this time, I will motion to suspend Rule 37 B.

▶ 2:08 Speaker 1: Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? All right, mayor Greg, the floor is yours.

▶ 2:19 Jen Grigoraitis: Good evening, Madam Chair and counselors. Thank you for having us this evening. I'm here to present, uh, my nomination of Gail Angelo to be our new director of Veteran Services for Melrose Week Field and Saga. As you all know, this is a shared position across those three communities. Um, I believe you all have a copy of Gail's resume in your packet. She, in addition to her service in the military, brings a really varied and storied career across education, art, um, and a lot of service. And she's been working for the city in the Veteran services officer role, and then applied for this position when it became available. We're really excited to have her taking on this role. She understands the nuts and bolts of the critical work we need to do for veterans. Most notably, the chapter one 15 benefits that need to be distributed. Um, and also has an understanding of the office and how it can partner with some of our other city departments, such as the Milano Center. So I'm really, um, thrilled to have her before you for consideration. Thank you.

▶ 3:20 Manjula Karamcheti: We would love for you to share anything regarding your background or you being here tonight if you care to.

▶ 3:27 Speaker 2: Sure. I stepped up because I think there should be continuity in that office. The veterans are our number one concern. I believe that with the Hero Act, we're gonna have even more veterans to serve and we need to have a well-staffed office. It will start with me, and we're trying to bring it up to, you know, full staff. The veterans that I meet are very remarkable people. Some have combat experience, some like me worked in a lab. My background is a rocket scientist and people will laugh, but it's true. I worked on the shuttle, that was what I did. And people say, well, that's not military well, but the fuel that puts the rocket up this way is also the fuel that puts the missile going this way. So that's my background. I went from Rocket Scientists when the mission was complete, and they were satisfied with that. I moved over to Combat Medic. So those are the two fields that I was in, and it's my pleasure to serve veterans and I hope going forward that we can serve them even better. Thank you.

▶ 4:42 Manjula Karamcheti: Thank you so much. So appreciate that. Do we have any questions from counselors?

▶ 4:49 Speaker 2: I just wanna say go ahead. Your service and for, um, being, you know, stepping up to be a part of the Veterans Group. Thank you

▶ 5:01 Manjula Karamcheti: Councilor Al. I saw him first. Sorry. Councillor Hamilton. No, no.

▶ 5:05 Speaker 3: I insist. Counselor

▶ 5:07 Speaker 1: Hamilton, the floor is yours. Thank you. I

▶ 5:10 Ward Hamilton: Also wanted to say thank you for your service. Oh,

▶ 5:13 Speaker 2: Thank you. It's my honor.

▶ 5:17 Speaker 1: Councilor Romanul, thank

▶ 5:17 Devin Romanul: You very much. Um, uh, really, uh, I was really excited when I saw your, um, resume come before. Some really appreciate you stepping up. I'm curious if, you know, if you might be willing to expand on your, uh, work, how you see, you know, um, this department functioning and this role functioning in a time of increased austerity and how we can better serve veterans in our, our community, and our respective communities. Um, I'd love your perspective on that in ways that we can support, uh, your mission in doing so.

▶ 5:44 Speaker 2: Right. Well, I am a manager first and a veteran second, and my major as a business major was to study management systems. So I'm trying to make the office more efficient so we can serve more people. So I like to put systems in place that way you just plug and play. Right now, it's kind of disparate and it's kind of spread out. So that's my first thing. 'cause I've been a, I've been at a very high level before. I've been vice president twice in two different companies, so I know how to make money, but the problem here is not making money. It's the first time I've worked for a nonprofit. So my focus will still be systems. This time the systems will be to improve the services. So that's what my main focus will be. And we have basically, I would say three or four major areas. The first of course, is chapter one 15 for the indigent veterans of Melrose. The second would be the VA claims, which is, takes forever to file. Takes forever to process. For example, I did my own VA claim just to test the system. I just wanted to name correction and a correction on my medals trivial stuff. It took a month just for them to say they received it. They're behind 900, almost a million claims. So that's a big year. So that's two. The third, you might laugh, but it's the food mark for the veterans. I run it. And there's a lot of veterans in need that use it. And I think the fourth will be working with the veterans Board. We have to have better ceremonies that people will want to attend. So those are the four areas that I have to concentrate on.

▶ 7:35 Devin Romanul: No, I really appreciate that. Thank you. And please keep us posted in ways that we can support each one

▶ 7:40 Speaker 2: Of those. Thank you.

▶ 7:42 Robb Stewart: Councillor Stewart. Thank you Madam Chair. Dr. Angela, thank you very much for coming forward to us and I appreciate the service that you've provided over the many years. Um, you've got an impressive background. I look forward to supporting you at the full council. Thank you. Thank you.

▶ 8:00 Manjula Karamcheti: Anyone else? Um, I will just take the liberty as chair to also say thank you for your service and for dedicating your time, energy, and expertise to the veterans of Melrose. Just really appreciated hearing about how important systems are and sort of the four categories of work. And, um, I will just say that my dad was one of the designers of the Patriot missile. And so you being a rocket scientist and being considered military is very important. Um, and so I'm glad you named that as that role and that service is extremely important as well. Um, so with that, what is the will of the committee?

▶ 8:41 Speaker 2: I'd like to make a, uh, motion to recommend. Second,

▶ 8:44 Manjula Karamcheti: We have a motion to recommend by Vice Chair Rio. Seconded by Councilor Romanul.

▶ 8:53 Speaker 1: Oh, it, it isn't a roll call. It is. It's, it's not. It, it is. Yes. Yes. Okay. Roll call. We'll take a roll call vote.

▶ 9:03 Speaker 4: Alright. Um, counselor Ro? Yes. Counselor Hamilton? Yes. Counselor remodel. Yes.

▶ 9:12 Leila Migliorelli: Um, chair Karm Shady?

▶ 9:16 Speaker 4: Yes. That is four. Yes.

▶ 9:18 Manjula Karamcheti: Great. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for being here tonight. Um, this motion will be moved to the full council. Uh, you do not need to attend at that time, um, but we will be recommending and moving this forward. Thank you very much. Yes. Thank you so much for being here at this time.