Melrose Council Search

Boards & Commissions Committee — 2026-03-02

Boards & Commissions Committee

This meeting starts at 0:00 in a recording that covers several meetings.

Attendance

Cal Finocchiaro present · Ward 6; Bradley Freeman present · President, Ex; Elizabeth Kowal present · At-Large; Christopher Park present · Ward 3; Kimberly Vandiver absent · Vice Chair

Agenda

  1. CALL TO ORDER (0:00)
  2. Attendees (0:12)
  3. MINUTES APPROVAL (0:33)
  4. PUBLIC COMMENT (0:46)
  5. APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS (1:03)
  6. Appointment of Diana Weinburg, 94 Maple Street, Melrose to the Commission on Women for a term of three-years, said term to expire the last day of February, 2029. (1:14)
  7. Appointment of Joseph Swithin Shortlidge, 132 Bay State Road, Melrose, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2029. (3:03)
  8. Appointment of Laurie Chomko, 14 Botolph Street, Melrose, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a term of three years, said term to expire on or before the last day in February, 2029. (4:45)
  9. Appointment of Paul Cusolito, 63 Stratford Road, Melrose to the Cemetery Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2029. (6:15)
  10. Appointment of Dawn Jacobs, 462 East Foster Street, Melrose to the Board of Health for a term of three years, said term to expire on or before the last day of February, 2029. (7:50)
  11. ADJOURNMENT (10:15)

Minutes

Boards & Commissions Committee Monday, March 2, 2026, 6:50 PM City Council Chamber, 1st Floor 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA 02176 MINUTES I. CALL TO ORDER Kimberly Vandiver Vice Chair Cal Finocchiaro Elizabeth Kowal Christopher Park William Bradley Freeman President, Ex Officio Member Ryan Williams Chair Meeting was called to order by Chair Williams at 6:51 PM. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Kimberly Vandiver Vice Chair Absent Cal Finocchiaro Ward 6 Present Elizabeth Kowal At-Large Present Christopher Park Ward 3 Present William Bradley Freeman President, Ex Present Officio Member Ryan Williams Chair Present II. MINUTES APPROVAL Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting February 23, 2026 6:30 PM (Remote Meeting) Motion to Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading made by Chair Williams. RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Ryan Williams, Bradley Freeman III. PUBLIC COMMENT When: Mar 2, 2026 06:50 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://cityofmelrose-org.zoom.us/j/97269189204?pwd=g8ebdHsZH4u02g5ba21pTkjqcl4Gbb.1 1 Passcode:414299 Webinar ID: 972 6918 9204 Motion to Open public comment made by Chair Williams at 6:51 PM. There were no comments on the floor or via Zoom. Motion to Close public comment made by Chair Williams at 6:52 PM. IV. APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS

A. (ID # 2026-381): Appointment of Diana Weinburg, 94 Maple Street, Melrose to the Commission on Women for a term of three-years, said term to expire the last day of February, 2029. Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Ryan Williams, Bradley Freeman NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver

B. (ID # 2026-445): Appointment of Joseph Swithin Shortlidge, 132 Bay State Road, Melrose, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2029. Motion to Approve made by President Freeman Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Ryan Williams, Bradley Freeman NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver Comments on Discussion: -President Freeman thanked Josh for his efforts on events for MLK Day. 2

C. (ID # 2026-446): Appointment of Laurie Chomko, 14 Botolph Street, Melrose, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a term of three years, said term to expire on or before the last day in February, 2029. Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by President Freeman All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Ryan Williams, Bradley Freeman NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver

D. (ID # 2026-456): Appointment of Paul Cusolito, 63 Stratford Road, Melrose to the Cemetery Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2029. Motion to Recommend made by President Freeman Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Ryan Williams, Bradley Freeman NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver

E. (ID # 2026-476): Appointment of Dawn Jacobs, 462 East Foster Street, Melrose to the Board of Health for a term of three years, said term to expire on or before the last day of February, 2029. Motion to Recommend made by Councilor Finocchiaro Seconded by Councilor Park All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Ryan Williams, Bradley Freeman 3 NAYS: None ABSENT: Kim Vandiver Comments on Discussion: -President Freeman was very impressed with Dawn's resume and knowledge pertaining to the Board of Health position. She is retired and happy to volunteer. V. ADJOURNMENT The City of Melrose does not discriminate based on disability and is committed to hosting accessible meetings and events. Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Melrose or to attend meetings, should contactthe City’s ADA Coordinator, Polina Latta platta@cityofmelrose.org. Motion to Adjourn by unanimous consent made by Chair Williams at 7:01 PM. Meeting was adjourned. 4 JOSEPH SWITHIN SHORTLIDGE 132 Bay State Road, Melrose, MA 02176 RESUME - November 10, 2025 Data Collaborative (recently retired from the company) Database application integration specialist. 20 years 11 months Arlington, Massachusetts, United States Specialties: Database application programming, API integrations Quality Control Systems, Business Operations Management, School Operations, Customer Relationship Management Systems (CRM), High-volume Email Newsletter Systems, Content Management Systems (CMS) Teach Quickbase (recently closed down) Quickbase Teacher, Expert Builder, and Integrator While hands-on building is what I spent the most of my hours on for clients, teaching them the magic of Quickbase was far more valuable. More valuable both for my clients and for me. My clients' mastery of Quickbase fundamentals raised the quality of all the work we did together. Other Avocations Blue of a Kind (recently disbanded) Tenor 1 2006 - Present (19 years) Blue of a Kind was a men's a cappella ensemble that presented lively arrangements of songs exploring the genres of jazz, blues, gospel, sea chanteys, folk, spirituals and popular music. Based north of Boston, Blue of a Kind consisted of approximately 17 voices (split between Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Baritone, and Bass) that shared a passion for performing and blending their voices as one, enriching audiences and singers alike. Ethos RoundTable Co-Convener The Ethos RoundTable was an informal group of people interested in 1) measuring and extending ethos, and 2) using technology for positive social change. We met monthly, in Harvard Square (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA) for discussions and presentations. Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship Manager of Technology Strategy and Systems February 2006 - December 2008 (2 years 11 months) Documented complex database migration. Met with all Boston College stakeholders in the project. Set expectations and worked with college- wide security audit team to maintain integrity of the implementation and maintenance of non-standard (to BC) technology. Executed 10-phase migration, within budget. Trained 30 users on the new system. Netmarquee Inc which was acquired by Circle.com which was acquired by Euro RSCG Senior Technical Architect December 1995 - October 2004 (9 years) One of the most profitable divisions of Havas / Euro RSCG Worldwide. Marketing officers of Symantec, Lexmark and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines relied extensively on my tools for marketing programs. - Discovered client-driven technical requirements for CMS, CRM, and email broadcast. Subsystems included versioning, workflow, customer list management, multi-lingual translations (double-byte), approval queues, WYSIWYGs, and campaign metrics - Architected, and oversaw routine use of a high-volume email system that broadcast 5 million emails per month across wide range of clients and marketing requirements. Education Harvard College, Harvard University BA, Visual and Environmental Studies · (1978 - 1983) Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business Master of Business Administration - MBA, Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies · (August 1994 - May 2003) Joseph (Josh) S. Shortlidge JOSEPH SWITHIN SHORTLIDGE 132 Bay State Road, Melrose, MA 02176 781 724 1326 josh@swithin.com November 10, 2025 Dear Lizzy, Melrose Human Rights Commission Team Members, and City of Melrose Officers, I wish to become a member of the Melrose Human Rights Commission (MHRC). Ever since I saw George Floyd get killed on May 25th 2020 I have been working to understand what I previously did not actively even recognize as a part of my world. How can I wake myself / ourselves up to be anti-racists? I plan to continue opening that blind spot in my ongoing life’s education. The Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church (MUUC) has an “Anti Racism Team” (MUUC-ART) which I led for three years during COVID, and am still an active participant of. One reason I want to join the Melrose’s Human Rights Commission (MHRC) is to link your group more solidly with MUUC-ART. Also, for the last four years I have been helping revive Melrose’s “Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service”. Melrose is disproportionately white, and there are some really important lessons that our community would benefit from learning about that trait. For instance, we had slaves in Melrose. Who knew… and is that important for us to become aware of? I have sat in on multiple MHRC meetings, and am very impressed by the large changes the group has recently undergone. I met the people who led that change, some of whom have since left the group, and the new people that have come to fill those roles in our City. I want to join that team of Melrosians. Thank You Joseph (Josh) S. Shortlidge LAURIE CHOMKO Melrose, MA 02176  STRENGTHS AND ACHIEVEMENTS Marketing leader with 20+ years in financial services, known for building strong partnerships with advisors, client associates and sales teams to understand their needs and deliver innovative solutions that drive client engagement and business growth. Brings B2B and B2C experience across brokerage, retail banking, wealth/asset management, wealth management banking & lending, and segment marketing (structured lending, business owner, family office, philanthropy, retirement). Experienced in collaborating across cross-functional teams to develop marketing programs that enhance client awareness, satisfaction, and business performance. Proven track record in delivering marketing strategies that drive both top-line and bottom-line results, with flawless execution across channels to maximize ROI. Holds Series 7 and 63 licenses, providing a deep understanding of the financial services landscape. EXPERIENCE BANK OF AMERICA, Boston, MA March 2008 - Present Senior Vice President, Data, Digital & Global Marketing Data, Digital & Global Marketing Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) Digital Acquisition Marketing (March 2024 - Present) Lead the development of the UHNW digital acquisition framework, driving net new client growth through strategic, data-driven and scalable multi-channel lead-generation and nurture programs. Execute targeted digital and email campaigns, personalized experiences and behavior-based engagement strategies supported by continuous test-and-learn optimization and measurement to improve acquisition, engagement and net client growth.  Strategic Architect: Built and executed lead-generation and nurture campaigns delivering 57 new UHNW relationships totaling $250MM (avg. win size $5M), ensuring the right message reaches the right audience in the right channel.  Data-Driven Optimization: Use insights and behavioral analysis to refine strategies; conduct A/B tests to improve design, messaging and engagement.  Scalable Frameworks: Develop repeatable processes to build and activate UHNW target populations efficiently and consistently. Wealth Management Banking, Lending & Rewards lead (July 2022 - Present) Led a team responsible for showcasing the full banking and investing value proposition to Wealth Management clients. Partner closely with the business to shape strategy and develop integrated marketing plans that drive acquisition and deepening, including direct-to-client programs, advisor-level marketing tools and specialist support.  Translate banking priorities into Wealth Management marketing strategies across Banking, Lending & Rewards.  Led Wealth Management marketing workstream for the New Bank of America App.  Influenced adoption of always-on participation in Consumer Card, Preferred Rewards and Digital Marketing indirect messaging across BofA digital channels.  Launched the Merrill Tiered Checking Offer, generating 6,000+ new checking accounts and driving assets to both BofA and Merrill.  Led marketing strategy for enhanced incentives for Premium Rewards & Premium Rewards Elite Cards, resulting in 3,700+ new cardholders.  Developed a multi-channel Preferred Rewards Lifestyle Benefits strategy that boosted Offers logins to 2,600+, a 500% increase in a single day. Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) Segment Marketing (September 2020 – June 2022) Led the strategic integration of Wealth Management Banking for Private Bank (PB), driving deeper UHNW client engagement through a focused go-to-market strategy, brand alignment and client-centric banking and investing experiences. Oversaw a portfolio of marketing strategies supporting sales and service across the Family Office, Business Owner, and Diverse Communities segments.  Preferred Rewards Launch: Introduced the Preferred Rewards loyalty program into PB, developing the marketing strategy, positioning, program language, visual identity and PB-specific advisor communication and education.  Premium Rewards Elite Card Launch: Directed the PB launch of the Premium Rewards Elite credit card, integrated with Preferred Rewards to enhance UHNW engagement. Built UHNW-aligned strategy, positioning, messaging and advisor support materials. L A U R I E C H O M K O P A G E 2 BANK OF AMERICA ( CONT .) Enterprise, Consumer and Global Wealth Investment Management Marketing Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) Segment Marketing (October 2016 – August 2020) Strategic partner to Merrill UHNW channels, including Merrill Private Wealth Management (PWM), catering to clients with $10mm+ under management. Responsible for the PWM’s national coverage to ensure strong strategies are built to drive acquisition, growth and deepening while supporting the brand, business and adding capacity back into our advisors’ day. UHNW Thought Leadership Marketing (January 2014 – October 2016) Led Merrill Private Wealth Management’s Thought Leadership program, catering to clients with $10mm+ under management. Thought Leadership Segment Marketing (January 2012 – January 2014) Managed budget and team to amplify Bank of America Private Bank’s Thought Leadership program by featuring the latest thinking to demonstrate the firm’s expertise by optimizing and leveraging a variety of delivery channels to clients with $3mm+ under management. Institutional Investments & Philanthropic (II&PS) Solutions Marketing (June 2009 – January 2012) Led II&PS marketing, which included advisor enablement, thought leadership, sponsorships and events, advertising and research through multiple lines of business. Institutional Retirement Strategic Marketing (March 2008 – June 2009) Built and executed institutional retirement marketing strategies that drove brand positioning and growth. FIDELITY INVESTMENTS, Boston, MA March 1998 - December 2007 Fidelity Capital Markets (October 2006 - December 2007) Senior Director, Program Marketing National Financial, a Fidelity Investments Company (October 2000 - October 2006) Director, Broker Marketing (January 2005 - October 2006) Director, Marketing (July 2002 - January 2005) Senior Communications Manager (October 2000 - July 2002) Fidelity Employer Services Company (March 1998 - October 2000) Communications Consultant Education CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNI VERSITY, New Britain, CT Bachelor of Science, Industrial Technology Graphic Design/Management and Marketing FINRA Licenses: General Securities Representative License Series 7 and States Securities License 63 Statement of Interest Laurie Chomko Members of the Melrose Human Rights Commission, I am writing to express my interest in serving as a Commissioner on the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three-year term. I support the Commission’s mission to make Melrose one community that is open, inclusive, and respectful of all, and I would be honored to contribute to efforts that promote equity, inclusion, and civic engagement across our city. I am committed to thoughtful collaboration and responsible service in support of positive local change. Attached is my resume for reference. Laurie Chomko PAUL CUSOLITO Mechanical Specialist • New England Email: PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY Mechanical Specialist with over 20 years of experience in the building materials and mechanical systems industry. Proven success in contractor relations, technical sales, value engineering, and key account management. Recognized for strong negotiation skills, HVAC expertise, and the ability to drive business growth across the New England region. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ASC ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS — NEW ENGLAND Mechanical Specialist (August 2017 – Present) • Provide technical support, product solutions, and value‑engineered alternatives for specifying engineers, contractors, and distributors. • Manage territory growth, customer relationships, and key accounts in the mechanical trades. TYCO MECHANICAL PRODUCTS — NEW ENGLAND Territory Manager (June 2012 – August 2017) • Managed regional sales for mechanical and HVAC-related product lines. • Built and maintained strong contractor and distributor relationships. • Drove sales growth through strategic planning, presentations, and product training. TOWER HILL SALES Manufacturers Representative (January 2000 – May 2012) • Represented multiple manufacturers across the mechanical and industrial sectors. • Developed and maintained long‑term customer relationships. • Supported contractors and engineers with product selection and system recommendations. February 12, 2026 Dear Mayor Grigoraitis, I am writing to express my interest in serving on the Cemetery Commission for the City of Melrose. As a committed resident, I value the importance of preserving and maintaining our community’s cemetery as a place of remembrance, history, and dignity. I am prepared to contribute my time, attention, and thoughtful perspective to help ensure this important piece of our local history and heritage remains dignified, accessible, and sustainable for future generations. I would be honored to support the Commission’s work in maintaining this important community space. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Paul Cusolito Dawn C.Jacobs BSN, MPH Melrose, MA 02176 | PROFESSIONAL PROFILE MPH-credentialed Clinical Research Leader with over 20 years of experience directing large-scale, multi-center Maternal Child Health (MCH) and epidemiological studies. Proven expert in orchestrating national clinical operations across 30 NICU sites , managing cohorts of 50,000+ subjects , and leading diverse multi-disciplinary teams. Combines deep clinical nursing roots in the NICU and Pediatrics with advanced expertise in IRB oversight , federal grant administration, and public health crisis response. CORE COMPETENCIES ● Clinical Operations: Multi-site Study Coordination, Protocol Development, Site Recruitment. ● Regulatory & Compliance: IRB Submissions (Smart-IRB), HIPAA, GCP Certification, Patient Consent. ● Data & Research: Epidemiology, Survey Design, Adverse Event Monitoring, REDCap. ● Leadership: Grant Writing (NIH/HRSA), Budget Estimation, Staff Mentorship, Cross-Functional Collaboration. ● Public Health: Emergency Preparedness, Vaccine Mobilization, Community Outreach. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SLONE EPIDEMIOLOGY CENTER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY | Boston, MA Project Coordinator – Maternal & Child Health Research | 2000–2021 ● Multi-Site Leadership: Spearheaded operations for national observational research (SAFE PREP) across 30 NICUs , managing complex workflows between multi-disciplinary teams and site investigators. ● Large-Scale Data Integrity: Directed a premier multi-center epidemiologic study of birth defects involving 50,000+ subjects , evaluating the safety profiles of medication exposures during pregnancy. ● Regulatory Oversight: Managed the end-to-end IRB submission and renewal process , ensuring 100% compliance with federal regulations and institutional contracts. 1 ● Grant & Budget Administration: Partnered with Principal Investigators to secure funding by developing comprehensive budget estimates and drafting technical components for federal grant applications. ● Team Management: Recruited and mentored high-performing research staff, fostering a culture of precision in data collection and adherence to AAP guidelines . CATALDO AMBULANCE SERVICES | Multiple Sites, MA Vaccine Clinic Nurse / Public Health Response | 2021–2024 ● Mass Mobilization: Administered COVID-19 vaccines at high-volume public clinics including Fenway Park and Hynes Convention Center . ● Vulnerable Population Outreach: Provided clinical care and routine "Vaccines for Children" (VFC) within shelter systems and community-based schools. BOSTON UNIVERSITY ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE CENTER | Boston, MA Clinical Research Coordinator | 2016–2018 ● Subject Advocacy: Managed recruitment and enrollment for Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials; performed eligibility screenings and obtained informed consent. ● Safety Monitoring: Conducted rigorous monitoring for adverse events and ensured trial protocol adherence. NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL CENTER | Boston, MA Clinical Research Coordinator – Pediatric Infectious Disease | 1998–2000 ● Vaccine Trials: Coordinated a variety of pediatric vaccine clinical trials, managing patient follow-up and pharmaceutical sponsor monitoring activities. BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL | Boston, MA Research Nurse – HIV Clinic / Staff Nurse | 1977–1998 ● Clinical Leadership: Provided specialized assessment for HIV-infected children and enrolled patients in national ACTG protocols . 2 ● NICU Expertise: Served as a Nurse Monitor for Adverse Drug Reaction studies in the Newborn ICU (NICU) and as a Staff Nurse in Pediatric Oncology . CONSULTING & PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP CITY OF MELROSE HEALTH DEPARTMENT | Melrose, MA Public Health Consultant | 2004–2005 ● Emergency Preparedness: Developed the Infectious Disease Emergency Plan for the Mystic Valley Bioterrorism Coalition, identifying resources for vulnerable populations. ● Program Planning: Assisted the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition with grant writing and community needs assessments. EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS ● Master of Public Health (MPH): Maternal & Child Health | Boston University School of Public Health ● Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): Excelsior University ● Registered Nurse (R.N.) Diploma: Boston Children’s Hospital School of Nursing ● TESOL Certificate: Boston University School of Education ● Licensure: Registered Nurse (RN), Commonwealth of Massachusetts COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ● Visiting Moms Program: Peer Support Volunteer | Jewish Family and Children’s Service ● The Food Drive: Food Security Logistics Volunteer | Melrose, MA ● Medical Reserve Corps: COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Nurse | Cape Ann, MA 3 February 13, 2026 Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis Melrose City Hall 562 Main St Melrose , MA 02176 Dear Mayor Grigoraitis: I am writing to express my interest in serving on the Melrose Board of Health. I am eager to contribute my time, skills and commitment to supporting the health and well-being of our community. I have many years experience in healthcare and believe strong public health leadership is essential to maintain a safe and thriving city. I would welcome the opportunity to assist in advancing policies , initiatives and community outreach efforts that promote public health and safety in Melrose. Thank you for your consideration. My resume is attached. I would be pleased to discuss my interest and qualifications at your convenience. Sincerely, Dawn Jacobs Melrose Cc: Anthony Chui Director Health and Human Services City of Melrose

Transcript

▶ 0:00 Ryan Williams: Okay, let's begin. Hello everybody. Good evening. This is Monday, March 2nd, 2026, and this is a meeting of the Boards and Commissions Committee of the City Council of Melrose. I'm the chair of the committee, Ryan Williams, and I'm joined by voting members Councilor Calfin Occhiaro, Councilor Elizabeth Kowal, Councilor Christopher Park, and President Brad Freeman, ex officio. This serves as a notice of a quorum and roll call, so the meeting will proceed. In accordance with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, tonight's meeting will be recorded and is being broadcast by our friends at MMTV, as well as live streamed on their website at mmtv3.org. At this time, I'll open the meeting by motioning by unanimous consent to approve the minutes from

▶ 0:41 Ryan Williams: February 23rd without reading. And I see no objections, so those minutes are approved. Then I will next motion by unanimous consent to open public comment. And we're open for public comment. Do we have anybody online? No one online. Okay. Is there anybody in the gallery that wants to speak in public comment, not as part of the, uh, attendees? Okay, great. Then, then I'll motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. So we have one, two, three, four, five appointments before us. Yep, all appointments before us tonight. Um, we have representatives from the administration here. Um, so I'm gonna read down the line. First is ID2026-381, the appointment of Diana Weinberg, 94 Maple Street, Melrose, to the Commission on Women

▶ 1:27 Ryan Williams: for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2029. And Ms. Weinberg can't be with us, so, uh, I can't remember the rule, but I'm gonna motion by unanimous consent to waive the rule for requiring appointments to appear before us. 36. 37A. 36. I forget. Anyway, um, and the mayor is gonna speak on her behalf. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Chair and Councilor. Thank you for having me tonight. So I'm, um, here to speak on behalf of several appointees, but, um, including Ms. Weinberg. As you have in your packet, she reached out to the city back in September expressing an interest in being on the Women's Commission. It's always great when we have residents proactively seeking to engage.

▶ 2:08 Jen Grigoraitis: Um, and we recently had a spot open up, so I'm pleased to put her nomination before you. She brings long experience in the private sector, and has, um, a documented history of supporting women and girls in business, and also has been a community volunteer, including serving on the board of directors for the farmers market for over a decade. So I think she'd be a wonderful addition, and I thank you for your consideration. Thank you very much. I will try to answer questions. Great. Is, uh, are there any questions from the councilors? Councilor Finocchiaro. I don't have a question. Um, the resume is amazing. She sounds like a great fit. I just want to make a motion to recommend. Second. Motion to recommend by Councilor Finocchiaro, seconded by President Freeman.

▶ 2:49 Ryan Williams: Any discussion? Okay, seeing none, all in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That passes. Thank you. Thank you. Let's move on to ID2026-445, appointment of Joseph Swithin Shortledge, 132 Bay State Road, Melrose, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire on the last day of February 2029. Hi, you must be Joseph. Thanks for joining us. Thank you. So, uh, Joseph goes by Josh, that's your preferred- Oh, excuse me. Oh, that's okay. Josh. Too many Joes in my family, so. Yep. Um, yeah. I'm real excited. I've, um... Ever since, um, George Floyd's passing, death, murder, whatever, um, I have been very active in this space, more on racial, and now I'm on the racial

▶ 3:42 justice team at the UU church. Um, really very, very excited about this work, work on the MLK Day Coalition. Um, that's a big thing that Ca- uh, Elizabeth's been helping with. Um, yeah. So I'm, I'm honored to be here, and thank you very much. Thank you very much. Any questions or comments from councilors? President Freeman? I just want to thank you for your work with the, uh, MLK Day. My family and I participated for the first time this year, and I found it to be a really rewarding experience and, and a great educational opportunity- Oh ... for both my children. So thank you for, for your service there. For your children? Yes. Ah. Yeah. With that, I'll make a motion to approve. Okay. Second.

▶ 4:32 Ryan Williams: Motion to approve by President Freeman, seconded by Councilor Kowal. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Okay. Thank you. That's approved. Thank you very much. Thank you. Congratulations. ID2026-446, the appointment of Lori Chamko of 14 Botolph Street, Melrose, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire on or before the last day in February 2029. Hi. Hi. Thanks for coming. Thank you for having me. So Lori also submitted, um, a request to be appointed to the Human Rights Commission. I know she's been involved in some of their work. She's a longtime Melrose resident. She's been deeply involved in the community. She obviously brings substantial professional experience as well, and

▶ 5:13 I actually first met her at boot camp, but I think she brings, um- You remember? Um, I think she brings a wealth of experience and passion and, um, we have some vacancies on the Human Rights Commission because of some elections, so it's great to have strong candidates stepping forward. Any questions or... Questions, comments, discussions, motions? Councilor Finocchiaro? Well, I'd like to make a motion to recommend, but also just thank you for stepping up and, and volunteering your time. Sure, no problem. Um, there was nine of us women who, uh, had an event last year, and we raised $25,000 for ACLU, so I'm very passionate about- That's great. Excellent ... human- humanitarian efforts, and I've done various volunteering.

▶ 5:55 Ryan Williams: I work the voting polls every election. Nice. So just another way to, uh, help our community. Thank you. We have a motion on the floor from Councilor Finocchiaro. Second. Seconded by President Freeman.On discussion? Forgot that part last time. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay, that passes. Thank you very much for your time, Ms. Jones. Thank you. Thank you for stepping up. Next we have ID 2026-456, the appointment of Paul Cusolito, 63 Stratford Road, Melrose, to the Cemetery Commission for a term of three years, said term to expire the last day of February 2029. Hi, welcome. Thank you for coming. Hello, good evening. So, Mr. Cusolito has, um, graciously agreed to serve on the Cemetery Commission after one of our longtime commissioners, Dan O'Neill, is stepping down

▶ 6:46 Jen Grigoraitis: after over a decade on that board. Um, obviously as you all know, the commission oversees Wyoming Cemetery where residents can be buried. Um, it's obviously a position that requires care and consideration, but also there's a lot of capital needs in that space, and so the commission is heavily involved in that. Mr. Cusolito, in addition to being a longtime Melrose resident, also brings, um, management experience in engineering, so that's a really important lens through which to engage that commission. So, thank you for stepping forward. You're welcome. Any questions from counselors? President Freeman? Again, thank you for, for stepping up here. I, I appreciate you and as I said at the last boards commissions meeting, I think

▶ 7:27 Ryan Williams: one of the best things about Melrose is all the individuals who step up to serve their community on these boards and commissions, so thank you and thank you to everyone else who's been here. I appreciate your recognition. Thanks. Absolutely. And with that, I'll make a motion to recommend. Okay, a motion by President Freeman to recommend. Second. Seconded by Counselor Cole. On discussion. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay, that passes. Thank you. Thanks so much for your time. Yeah. Okay. Final order tonight is ID 2026-476, the appointment of Dawn Jacobs, 462 East Foster Street, Melrose, to the Board of Health for a term of three years, said term to expire on or before the last day of February

▶ 8:04 Jen Grigoraitis: 2029. And Ms. Jacobs is here. Hello. Hello. Thank you for joining us. Hi. So we have a vacancy on our Board of Health, which is a three-member board. Um, Dawn has been deeply involved in the community for many, many, many years. I first met her when she was running the city's, um, informal ESL program to help residents learning to speak English, so she brings a long history of community engagement. She is a nurse, has a master's in publish health, has worked, um, helping to administer vaccines and also has done a lot of work on maternal and child health, so would be a great addition to our board. Excellent. Thank you for serving. Yep. Counselors? President Freeman? I j- I was just looking at your resume here, and I have to say it's incredibly

▶ 8:45 Bradley Freeman: impressive. You have quite the career in public health. Yeah. I'm, I'm retired, but- ... I still thought I could use my brain here. Thank you for all you've done. Yeah. I think that's, it's one of the best things about Massachusetts is the public health- Yeah ... brain trust we have here, and I think having you contribute that to Melrose would be a, a welcome asset. And I have to tell you that, uh, one of the reasons I volunteered was because one of your al- new city... I still, still call them alderman, that's how old I am It's okay ... city counselors, um, he did this really great video and he said, "The best way you can serve your community is to volunteer for a board," and that was, so it was a, it was a kind of

▶ 9:17 Cal Finocchiaro: a push, so. That was, came from one of your, your fellow city counselors. That's wonderful to hear. So. Counselor Finocchiaro, did you have any? N- no, I was actually go- Well, I will speak now. I was looking, I was looking at your resume earlier and, um, I worked in cancer research for a long time, so look- I saw the IRB submissions and- Oh, yeah. Yeah ... working with multi sites to, um... So I know how much work that is. So. I mean, you're overly qualified, so. I hope so. Appreciate ... hope so. Appreciate you pointing that out. I, I'll have to learn what the rules are for the Board of Health, but I'll, I'll, I'll follow them. I'm sure you'll do great. Um, did you have, did you have a motion?

▶ 9:56 Devin Romanul: I'll make a motion to recommend. Second. Okay, motion to recommend by Counselor Finocchiaro, seconded by Counselor Park on discussion. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay, that passes. Thank you very much. Thank you. And that concludes our meeting tonight. Um, so if no one has any comments, I'll motion by unanimous consent to adjourn. Okay, we're adjourned. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. The time is 7:20 on Monday, March 2nd, 2026. This is a meeting of the Appropriations and Oversight Committee. My name is Devin Romano, I am the chair. This evening, I am joined by Vice Chair Vandiver, as well as Counselors Chen, Finocchiaro, Jamaludin, Karemchedi, Cowell, Park, Williams, and President

Original documents