APPT-2024-38 : Requesting the appointment of Doreen Breland, 910 Main Street, Apt. 514 in Melrose, to the Melrose Housing Authority, for a five year term, ending first Monday in March 2029.

Transcript (~4 min @ 3:06)

Speakers identified by voice; unnamed voices are numbered within this recording. Auto-caption text — verify against the video.

▶ 3:05 Manjula Karamcheti: We have two orders on our agenda, and these are both appointments tonight. The first is appointment 2024 dash 38.

▶ 3:14 Speaker 2: This is the appointment of

▶ 3:16 Manjula Karamcheti: Doreen Breland on nine 10 Main Street, apartment 5 1 4 in Melrose to the Melrose Housing Authority for a five year term ending first Monday in March, 2029. Representing Mayor Gita. Tonight is chief of staff Lauren Grek,

▶ 3:33 Speaker 1: and she is here graciously

▶ 3:36 Manjula Karamcheti: to present this candidate at this time. Then I will motion to spend the rule of 37 B, um,

▶ 3:43 Speaker 1: and we'll do that by unanimous consent.

▶ 3:45 Manjula Karamcheti: I see no objections. So, Ms. Gimmick, this stage is yours.

▶ 3:49 Speaker 1: Sure. Um, thank you so much for your time and for being here this evening. I'm happy to be here representing the mayor this evening with her appointment that's before you for the Melrose Housing Authority for the resident representative for a five year term. Um, I personally knew Ms. Breland when I ran the Chamber of Commerce, so I've known her as an active participant in someone who's always been involved in the community, not only through the Chamber, but through events, um, working at the Farmer's market. Um, and we know now that in her involvement, um, at the McCarthy house, that she's very involved in the resident activities that take place there. So the mayor was, um, very happy to speak with her and meet with her, and, um, thinks that this is a great candidate for this position.

▶ 4:36 Speaker 2: Great. Thank you so much Ms. Breland. We'd love for you to make any comments. I'm happy to answer any questions. Uh, I am in the McCarthy building. I absolutely love it. I love the community and I do participate in many activities and I have, um, been part of h and r Block for over 25 years, um, and done, have done the management and meetings and such. But again, I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Alright. Any questions from counselors this evening?

▶ 5:20 Manjula Karamcheti: Okay. Well, I would just like to say thank you so much

▶ 5:23 Speaker 2: for volunteering your time, um,

▶ 5:25 Manjula Karamcheti: to the Melrose Housing Authority. It's an important part of our community, and I'm just very grateful that you're stepping up to share your time and your, your love of the city and making sure that our residents are well taken care of.

▶ 5:41 Speaker 1: Yes. Okay. Well, what is the will of the committee?

▶ 5:49 Manjula Karamcheti: Second, we have a motion to recommend by Councilor Rio, seconded by Councilor Al on on discussion.

▶ 5:57 Speaker 2: All in favor? Aye. Aye. Anyone opposed?

▶ 6:02 Manjula Karamcheti: All right. Well, that motion carries. Um, and this appointment will move forward to our General City Council meeting, um, where we will take our final vote. You do not need to be there, um,

▶ 6:14 Speaker 2: but you are always welcome to come to any meeting. You would like to. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your consideration. Thanks.

▶ 6:23 Speaker 1: Good job. All good. You're all set.

▶ 6:28 Speaker 2: Have a good evening. You too. Thank you too. Stay care.

▶ 6:33 Manjula Karamcheti: Okay, we'll move on to appointment 2024 dash 40, the appointment of Matthew Traver, 17 Brookledge Road to the Melrose to Melrose, the Commission on Disability.

▶ 6:43 Speaker 1: Again, the floor is yours. Thank you, chief of Staff Grim. Um, yes, so on behalf of Mayor Greg, I'm very happy to, um, be here to represent her in the appointment of Matt Travers, who, um, is personally a great colleague of mine. We actually started one day apart working for the city, um, and he right away helped onboard me, um, even in only working for a day in his role at the hr. Um, he's someone that a lot of our colleagues trust and go to for all sorts of advice. Um, navigating sort of city employment policy is not always easy, as some of, you know, working in government. Um, Matt is always very patient, knowledgeable, um, and friendly. And, um, the mayor's particularly happy to be putting forth this appointment because the, um, position or this appointment has been, um, vacant for about two years, two or three years. Karen Burke, who was our previous director of veteran Services, was the liaison role between the administration and the commission. So, um, she's really thrilled to be able that, um, to put Matt forward in that he was interested to step up.