Boards & Commissions Committee — 2026-05-21

Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting 5.21

This meeting starts at 0:01 in a recording that covers several meetings.

Attendance

Cal Finocchiaro present, Arrived at 6:56 PM · Ward 6; Bradley Freeman present · President, Ex; Elizabeth Kowal present · At-Large; Christopher Park present · Ward 3; Kimberly Vandiver present · Vice Chair

Agenda

Minutes

Boards & Commissions Committee Thursday, May 21, 2026, 6:45 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 Vice Chair Vandiver at 6:45 PM Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Kimberly Vandiver Vice Chair Present Cal Finocchiaro Ward 6 Present Arrived at 6:56 PM Elizabeth Kowal At-Large Present Christopher Park Ward 3 Present William Bradley Freeman President, Ex Present Officio Member Ryan Williams Chair Absent Manjula Karamcheti, non-voting member, also attended and arrived at 6:56 PM II. MINUTES APPROVAL Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting April 6, 2026 6:40 PM Motion to Approve the minutes by unanimous consent made by Vice Chair Vandiver All were in favor and minutes were approved RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Cal Finocchiaro, Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Kim Vandiver, Bradley Freeman III. PUBLIC COMMENT 1 When: May 21, 2026 06:45 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Boards & Commissions Committee Meeting Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://cityofmelrose- org.zoom.us/j/94445450453?pwd=tvWoBbcGBhitkouMkKqkOBNtsmLrQ0.1 Passcode:923670 Webinar ID: 944 4545 0453 Motion to Open public comment made by Vice Chair Vandiver at 6:46 PM Comments on the floor: Jen McAndrew, 12 Sears Avenue, proudly supports the appointment of Mark McKinnon to the Melrose Housing Authority Board. She's known Mark for 20 years as a family friend, a former colleague, and a Ward 1 neighbor. She's had the privilege of working with Mark on two occasions, first in the Massachusetts State House, and then on staff in the U.S. House of Representatives. He listens and works collaboratively, he understands how government works, and he values good government and understands what it can bring to communities. He cares about people and leads with understanding and empathy. There were no comments via Zoom. Motion to Close public comment made by Vice Chair Vandiver at 6:48 PM IV. APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS

A. (ID # 2026-1146): Appointment of Mark McKinnon, 585 Franklin Street, to the Melrose Housing Authority for a five-year term, said term to expire first Monday of March, 2029. Mr. McKinnon is completing the term of Ellen Connolly who has stepped down. Motion to Recommend made by President Freeman Seconded by Councilor Park All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: PASSED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Kim Vandiver, Bradley Freeman NAYS: None ABSENT: Ryan Williams, Cal Finocchiaro absent for this vote due to late arrival Mayor Jen explained that Mark McKinnon understands the nexus of federal, state, and local government, which is actively at play every day at the Housing Authority, as well as meeting the needs of complex individuals. The most frequent housing calls that come into her office are from our residents at the Housing Authority, and helping folks understand where the city versus the state versus the federal government ends can be really confusing, and being able to do that at a high level on the board and help to communicate that empathetically and consistently will be a really big asset for him on that board. During his time in DC Mark did not work on any housing policy but had worked on LGBTQ issues, immigration, and postal service. He got to work with people who worked 2 on those types of legislation, like Katherine Clark. Mark wants to serve in Melrose to let as many people in vulnerable communities experience this great place as he did growing up in Melrose. His first priority would be to establish relationships with the other existing board members, then look into public housing for people with intellectual disabilities.

B. (ID # 2026-824): Reappointment of Peter Bowman, 24 Arlington Road, to the Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term, said term to expire the last day of February 2029. Motion to Recommed 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, Kim Vandiver, Bradley Freeman NAYS: None ABSENT: Ryan Williams Mayor Jen stated that a significant portion of what that board does is oversee the many investments of funds that have been dedicated to the library, and Peter Bowman has provided a level of dedication and expertise that has really helped to grow those funds and also make sure that we're in compliance with the many regulations that fall onto the government.

C. (ID # 2026-1235): Appointment of Francisco Morales, 12 Patricks' Place, to the Human Rights Commission, for a three-year term, said term to expire 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, Kim Vandiver, Bradley Freeman NAYS: None ABSENT: Ryan Williams Mayor Jen commented that Francisco Morales volunteered on his own, and she is thrilled that someone like this with his caliber of lived and professional experience resides in our community and wants to help make it better. Francisco stated that it's rare for there to be a commission of citizens of a community that partake in this kind of work, and it's part of his life mission to contribute. V. ADJOURNMENT 3 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 made by Councilor Finocchiaro at 7:01 PM Seconded by President Freeman All were in favor and meeting was adjourned 4 Dear Council Members, I am writing to express my interest in serving on the Board of the Melrose Housing Authority. I am committed to supporting safe, affordable, and accessible housing within our community, and I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the Authority’s mission. I am particularly interested in helping strengthen policies and programs that promote housing stability, responsible stewardship of public resources, and equitable service to residents. Through my professional experience in and out of government, I have developed strong skills in collaboration, problem-solving, and thoughtful decision-making. I understand the importance of balancing strategic planning with the day-to-day needs of the individuals and families the Housing Authority serves. Having been born and raised in this great community and as a current resident of Melrose, I would be honored to bring my time and dedication to the Board and to work alongside fellow members in advancing the Authority’s goals. Thank you for your consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my interest further. Sincerely, Mark McKinnon Mark McKinnon 585 Franklin St. Apt. 3 Melrose, MA 02176 Mark McKinnon 585 Franklin Street Unit 3, Melrose, MA 02176 Professional Experience Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated – Boston, MA Senior Manager, US Commercial Health Systems Marketing, December 2025 – Present • Lead the planning, strategy, and execution for Health System Congress presence and activities for JOURNAVX® (suzetrigine). • Lead implementation of all strategic account peer education programs for JOURNAVX composed of field scheduled speaker programs and headquarter-directed speaker events at congresses such as product theaters and roundtables. • Establish team processes to achieve key thought leader advice to improve understanding of in-market dynamics impacting JOURNAVX and to strengthen promotional plans across the brand. • Recruit, contract, and manage Strategic Council for ongoing commercialization advice across Health Systems team. • Support the planning and execution of strategic account led congresses. Manager, US Commercial Marketing, June 2024 – December 2025 • Manage marketing external budget of ~$120 million, ensuring efficient allocation of resources while maintaining operational quality and tracking to quarterly budget targets. • Serve as US Pain Marketing Leadership team member, providing strategic and operational support for Head of US Pain Marketing, coordinate internal calendar and communications, and represent pain marketing on planning committees for major cross-functional meetings. • Championed creation of marketing team operational excellence model by streamlining workflows and standardizing workstream touchpoints to boost team efficiency and performance. • Directed cross-functional collaboration with external agency partners through weekly team scrums and quarterly all-agency workshops and business reviews, optimizing vendor performance to deliver high- quality campaigns that support brand marketing goals for JOURNAVX launch. • Launched and managed marketing and market access/health systems Customer Facing Champion (CFC) teams to strengthen alignment between marketing and sales functions, gathering actionable field insights to enhance branded campaign materials and improve sales team effectiveness and customer experience. Manager, Marketing Operations (MOps), August 2023 – June 2024 • MOps lead for the launch of CASGEVY, facilitating and coordinating Communication Review Committee (CRC) and launch prep strategy with Regulatory Affairs and commercial business unit. • Lead member of Launch Readiness Team, working with CRC submitters and agency partners to prepare for FDA approval and launch of external marketing materials for healthcare providers, patient/caregiver communities, and payers. • Administrator of Veeva Vault PromoMats, consulting with Patient Excellence and Customer Operations, US Marketing, Market Access, and Commercial Training. • Coordinated with Regulatory and Regulatory Operations to execute FDA 2253 submission filings. • Increased operational efficiency through implementation and support of new Veeva Vault PromoMats filing process related to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) optimization and utilization. • Provided training and support for both internal and external CRC submitters (Vertex Project Managers and agency partners) on submission platform and CRC SOP and processes. • Conducted onboarding of new Marketing Operations team members, CRC reviewers, internal project managers, and agency partners on CRC process, standards, and best practices. Senior Specialist, Marketing Operations (MOps), July 2022 – August 2023 • Interim Marketing Operations lead for Hematology Therapy, facilitating and coordinating CRC meetings and launch prep strategy. • MOps lead for Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Market Access Strategy CRC teams, providing support in both Cystic Fibrosis and other pipeline disease areas. • Supported activity planning (build agendas, timelines, and project prioritization milestones) for Heme commercial business unit, identifying and communicating opportunities for process improvement. • Managed and facilitated CRC process for two product label expansions in Cystic Fibrosis, including scenario planning, launch readiness activities, and Regulatory Agency submissions. • Performed Administrator oversight of the Marketing Operations Electronic Review Platform Senior Coordinator, Community Affairs and Office of the CEO, July 2018 – July 2022 • Served as project manager for all Community Affairs and Office of the CEO activities to ensure timely execution and cross-functional collaboration with Government Affairs and Public Policy, Corporate Communications, Legal, OBIE, and the Vertex Foundation. • Tracked, processed, and managed budget for all Massachusetts-based corporate sponsorships, partnerships, and memberships related to Vertex’s corporate giving strategy. • Provided strategic external partnership strategy recommendations to VP of Community Affairs to advance corporate social responsibility goals within the Greater Boston community. • Conducted external partner meetings and represented Vertex at external events (trade organization business meetings, non-profit board meetings, charity dinners, and galas). • Served on the planning committee for special projects, including the Vertex High School Intern Program. U.S. House of Representatives – Washington, D.C. Scheduler and Legislative Assistant, May 2016 – April 2018 • Public policy research staffer for immigration, civil rights, election reform, and government oversight portfolio and provided legislation floor vote recommendations. • Managed official, political, and personal schedule for Member of Congress and provided strategic oversight of office operations. • Created and implemented targeted scheduling plans based on legislative and political priorities and provided preparatory logistical materials and advance work. • Met with activists, constituents, and business stakeholders, and provided legislative service action reports. Scheduler and Legislative Correspondent, June 2015 – May 2016 • Managed constituent correspondence program providing oversight of response strategy and operations. • Drafted, edited, and catalogued hundreds of constituent response letters. Staff Assistant, January 2014 – June 2015 • Managed administrative operations, including facilitating staff and Member meetings. • Assembled and managed congressional intern program, including recruiting, hiring, and training. • Drafted personal correspondence, letters of recommendation, and meeting memos for Member of Congress and senior staff. Education The University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA Bachelor of Arts in International Relations & Bachelor of Arts in Russian Language & Studies Awards 2024 Vertex Pinnacle Award From: Linda C.W. Gardener To: Mayor"s Office Subject: Fwd: Reappointment to the Melrose Library Board of Trustees Date: Saturday, April 4, 2026 4:27:29 PM Please see below Peter Bowman's expression of interest in continuing on the Library Board of Trustees. -- Linda CW Gardener [she/her], Director Melrose Public Library, Melrose MA www.melrosepubliclibrary.org 781-665-2313 ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Peter Bowman < > Date: Sat, Apr 4, 2026 at 3:21 PM Subject: Reappointment to the Melrose Library Board of Trustees To: Linda C.W. Gardener <lcwgardener@noblenet.org> Dear Melrose City Council: I am seeking reappointment to the Melrose Library Board of Trustees. I have been a life long resident of the City of Melrose. I have served on the Traffic Commission and was Chairman of the Melrose Master Plan Committee some years back. I also currently serve on the Cable Access Committee. I joined the Library Board of Trustees in December 2022. I have served as an officer on the Board, filling positions of Clerk and Treasurer. I currently serve as the Treasurer. I have been an active Board member and in the role I have monitored trust fund investments and interacted with our advisors at UBS. I have worked closely with the Library Director reviewing and revising new policies and policy updates. I look forward to continuing to serve on the Board. Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information. I look forward to your decision. Thank you. Peter T. Bowman ****CITY OF MELROSE PUBLIC RECORDS NOTICE: Please be advised that the Massachusetts Attorney General has determined that email is a public record unless the content of the email falls within one of the stated exemptions under the Massachusetts Public Records Laws.**** From: Francisco Morales < > Sent: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 3:56 PM To: Mayor's Office mayorsoffice@cityofmelrose.org< > Subject: Melrose Human Rights Commission Member Consideration Dear Mayor Grigoraitis, I am interested in joining the Melrose Human Rights Commission ("MHRC") and hope to support my community with this important work. I am inspired by the MHRC's mission of promoting a spirit of diversity and respect for others regardless of their differences. My family moved to Melrose over three years ago, and one of the reasons we chose to live here is because we wanted to join a community that promoted these values. Professionally, I have been an attorney for over 10 years and for over ﬁve years have gained considerable experience with Civil Rights-related issues. Personally, I moved to Massachusetts from Puerto Rico at a young age and understand ﬁrst-hand the impact a supportive and welcoming community can have on persons from diverse backgrounds. These experiences have allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the importance and sensitivity surrounding the types of disputes and issues the MHRC takes on and I hope to work with the other commissioners to continue MHRC's mission. As I currently work for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation ("MassDOT"), I would have to recuse myself from any matters that implicate MassDOT, the MBTA, or any Commonwealth executive agency. I am happy to discuss how/if this would impact my participation in this commission. Please let me know if you need any additional information from me, or if you would like to schedule a time to meet. Sincerely, Francisco ____________________ Francisco T. Morales P: E: f Francisco T. Morales, Esq. + · EXPERIENCE Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), Boston, MA Nov. 2024 – present Senior Lead Counsel – Compliance and Regulatory Nov. 2021 – Feb. 2024 • Provide management and oversight of all regulatory compliance matters within the Office of the General Counsel, including the supervision of MassDOT and MBTA attorneys. • Manage investigations and compliance inquiries from federal and state oversight agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, Office of the Inspector General, State Auditor, and other government entities. Served as a liaison with federal and state partners in connection with investigations. • Advise the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights (ODCR) on legal matters pertaining to MassDOT and the MBTA. • Completed the MassDOT Management Certificate Program. Acting Chief Diversity Officer – MassDOT/MBTA Mar. 2024 – Oct. 2024 • Advised the Secretary, the General Manager of the MBTA, and senior staff on matters relating to the development and implementation of MassDOT and the MBTA’s various Civil Rights and Diversity Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) programs and policies. • Oversaw the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights’ (ODCR) administration of MassDOT and the MBTA’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Title VI, and Americans with Disabilities Act (MassDOT only) (ADA) compliance programs. • Worked directly with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to address any Civil Rights-related compliance issues. • Issued written decisions as the Appellate Officer for appeals of investigative findings and ADA accommodation decisions. Milligan & Company, LLC., Philadelphia, PA (remote employee located in Boston, MA) 2019 – 2021 Senior Compliance Analyst • Regulatory Consultant. Led comprehensive Triennial Reviews on behalf of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), with a particular focus on grants management, procurement, and civil rights compliance. Delivered large- scale in-person and virtual trainings on FTA regulations for states and municipalities. • Qualified by the FTA as a subject matter expert in the areas of Title VI and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and to lead area-specific reviews of transit agencies. Calyptus Consulting Group, Inc., Cambridge, MA 2017 – 2019 Analyst/Consultant • Regulatory Consultant. Led comprehensive Triennial Reviews on behalf of the FTA, including compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI, DBE, Equal Employment Opportunity, grants management, procurement, and financial management regulations. Delivered large-scale, in-person trainings on FTA regulations. Managed a bilingual (English/Spanish) technical assistance project for Puerto Rico FTA grant recipients. • Performed Procurement System Reviews (PSR) for private and public sector organizations, including a review of solicitations and bid evaluations, contracts, and post-award contract administration, to assess compliance with regulations and contract terms. Law Office of Francisco T. Morales, Cambridge, MA 2015 – 2017 Attorney at Law • Criminal defense litigation. Served as lead counsel in hundreds of cases and conducted numerous jury and bench trials, as well as dispositive and evidentiary motion hearings. Committee for Public Counsel Services, Roxbury/Dorchester, MA 2011 – 2015 Trial Attorney • Represented indigent defendants charged with misdemeanors and felonies in Massachusetts Superior and District Courts. Individually responsible for a caseload of 60+ clients from arraignment to disposition. Hare & Chaffin, Boston, MA 2004 – 2006, 2007 – 2008 Paralegal – Civil Litigation • Coordinated and assisted attorneys with litigation discovery, depositions, and trial preparation. Shearman & Sterling LLP, Paris, France 2006 – 2007 Paralegal – International Arbitration • Performed electronic document review in English and Spanish for high-stakes international arbitration cases. EDUCATION Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA, Juris Doctor 2008 – 2011 • Suffolk University Law School National Trial Team, Suffolk Public Defenders Clinic Amherst College, Amherst, MA, Bachelor of Arts 2000 – 2004 • Major: Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought • Varsity Baseball, 2000 – 2004 BAR ADMISSIONS AND LANGUAGE SKILLS • Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar • Native fluency in Spanish (Reading, Writing, and Speaking)

Transcript

▶ 0:01 Kimberly Vandiver: All right. Good evening. The time is 6:45 PM on Thursday, May 21st, and this meeting of boards and commissions is called to order. I'm Councilor Vandiver, the chair. Also joining me tonight are Councilors Park and Cole, as well as President Freeman, ex officio. This serves as a notice of quorum for the record, and in accordance with open meeting law, this meeting is being recorded and broadcast by MMTV. I will now motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment. Hello. Welcome. Thank you. Please state your name and address. Hi, everyone. Thank you for having me. My name's Jen McAndrew. I live at 12 Sears Ave. I'm here to speak tonight, and proudly support the appointment before you of Mark

▶ 1:04 Jennifer McAndrew: McKinnon to the Melrose Housing Authority board. I've known Mark for 20 years, um, as a family friend, a former colleague, and a Ward 1 neighbor. And, um, I've had the privilege of working with Mark on two occasions, first in the Massachusetts State House, and then on staff in the U.S. House of Representatives. He's gone on since, as I know you've seen from his materials, to success and leadership in the private sector as well. Among the qualities that make Mark ideal for this type of role, I think, are that he listens and works collaboratively, he understands how government works, and he values good government and understands what it can bring to communities. He loves Melrose, and after growing up here, returned as a young

▶ 1:52 Jennifer McAndrew: professional and purchased a home here, which I think speaks volumes about his commitment to the community. And most importantly, he cares about people and leads with understanding and empathy. I'm really glad that the mayor nominated him for this role and that he's willing to serve in this civic leadership position. I thank you all for your service to Melrose, which I really appreciate, and for listening to me tonight. Thank you. Thank you so much. Is there anyone else who'd like to speak at public comment? Is there anyone online? No one online. Thank you. At this time, I'll motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. And I see I skipped minutes approval, so at this time, I'll also motion by

▶ 2:31 Jen Grigoraitis: unanimous consent to approve the minutes of the boards and commissions meeting from April 6th. Seeing no objections, those are now approved. The first order before us is ID number 2026-1146, the appointment of Mark McKinnon, 585 Franklin Street, to the Melrose Housing Authority for a five-year term, said term to expire first Monday of March 2029. Mr. McKinnon is completing the term of Ellen Connolly, who has stepped down. And we have with us Mr. McKinnon and the mayor. Welcome. Good evening, Madam Chair and councilors. Thank you for having us tonight. So just to expand on what was so articulately said in public comment, I'm thrilled to put Mark McKinnon before you tonight for your consideration to the

▶ 3:14 Jen Grigoraitis: housing authority. He will be replacing the longtime chair of the authority. It's not often that we replace members of that board, so it's really an important opportunity. As I believe you know, we have multiple public housing buildings here in Melrose, and while they're not directly run by the city, they're largely run through the federal and state programs. I do have the opportunity to appoint board members to help in their oversight. In addition to everything that was said about Mr. McKinnon, his lifelong commitment to Melrose, his vast professional experience, he also understands the nexus of federal, state, and local government, which is actively at play every day at the housing authority, as well as meeting

▶ 3:49 Jen Grigoraitis: the needs of complex individuals. The most frequent housing calls that come into my office are from our residents at the housing authority, and helping folks understand where the city versus the state versus the federal government ends can be really confusing, and being able to do that at a high level on the board and help to communicate that empathetically and consistently will be a really big asset for him on that board. So I'm thrilled to have him here tonight. I'm really grateful for his willingness to serve, and thank you for your consideration. Thank you, Madam Mayor. And Mr. McKinnon, would you like to say anything before we open it up for questions? No, I appreciate the mayor's words and Jen's words

▶ 4:27 Bradley Freeman: as well. I'm excited to serve in this capacity, if you all agree. And yeah, I love Melrose, like Jen mentioned, born and raised here. Excited to serve in this added capacity beyond just private citizen. So thank you. Thank you. Any questions from the committee? President Freeman. Thank you. And thank you, Mr. McKinnon, for your willingness to serve. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to have someone in the housing authority who does have this federal government experience, as well as state government experience, and recognizing the unique role those do play in housing projects, knowing that you served as an ally, but more importantly, constituent services. I think having the ability to answer those questions and

▶ 5:12 Bradley Freeman: direct people to get the resources is really such a critical role, and as someone who dealt with constituent services, I'm sure you're incredibly well-versed in that. Just in your time in D.C., did you work on any housing policy that would be pertinent to the housing authority within your legislative portfolio? Not directly. When I was in LA in D.C., I worked on LGBTQ issues, immigration, and actually postal service. But we did-- Catherine Clark's a huge champion for public housing, so I did get to work with people who worked on those types of pieces of legislation. I think D.C.'s a complicated place, so I imagine that that experience just generally will hopefully help me in this capacity on

▶ 5:57 Elizabeth Kowal: a local level. But hopefully that answers your question, not directly with housing, but worked closely with colleagues who did. That's wonderful, just the fact that you have colleagues who did that. You'll know who to call if there's a question about D.C. policy. Yeah. I hope they'll still pick up the phone. Absolutely. Well, thank you very much, and I look forward to supporting your nomination. Thank you. Appreciate it And thank you. And Councilor Coleman? Hi. Thanks so much for coming before us tonight. And you may have just answered this, but I'm curious. There's a lot of commissions in Melrose, and so what made you particularly interested in this one? Yeah. Like I mentioned, I was born and raised here. I love this city.

▶ 6:35 Recently, late in 2024, bought my first home here. My folks, my parents are still here, brother's close in Charlestown. I really want Melrose, I want everyone who can to have the same experience as I did growing up in Melrose. It's a great, safe community. And I think serving in this capacity, hopefully, I can sort of add to that experience for others who may want it. Letting as many people in vulnerable communities experience this great place is a huge goal for me. So hopefully that gives you an idea. Thank you. Yes. And Councilor Park. Hi, Mark. Thank you for stepping up to apply for this position. And my question is, obviously you're familiar with the role and you've been in similar capacities in

▶ 7:28 various positions. What do you see, in terms of the Housing Commission, that you would like to potentially take in a different direction or improve? Or what do you think immediately your first steps would be to sort of help the community in this role? Yeah, it's a great question that I might need some more time to think about. I can see it going in a few different directions. I think my priority number one would be to establish relationships with the other existing board members. I think that would be priority number one for me. I understand the importance of public housing. I have a family member who has intellectual disabilities, and his parents have sort of weighed the age-old question of whether he stays at home or whether he moves to a public

▶ 8:20 facility. So I would love to sort of lean into that area of research related to MHA specifically, and sort of what we can do to provide citizens with intellectual disabilities with better opportunities. I imagine that the biggest hurdles will be the communications with state and federal government, potentially the lack or changing policy landscape with getting money to flow to local communities. So that's hopefully an area where I can explore and see where I can potentially help, and bring as many resources to Melrose as possible. Very good. Thank you. President Freeman for the second time. I'd like to make a motion to recommend. Second. Okay, we have a motion to recommend from President Freeman, seconded by

▶ 9:14 Jen Grigoraitis: Councilor Park. Anyone on discussion? All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? So that will go back to this full city council with a recommendation for approval. Thank you so much for coming before us, and for everyone's thoughtful questions and your thoughtful responses. Thank you for your time and your service. Thank you. Thank you. Next up we have ID number 2026-824, the reappointment of Peter Bowman, 24 Arlington Road, to the Library Board of Trustees for a three-year term, said term to expire the last day of February 2029. Thank you for joining us. Hello. Madam Mayor. I'm going to stick around. So Mr. Bowman has graciously agreed to continue serving on the Library Board of Trustees, which is a role he has honorably held for some

▶ 10:02 Jen Grigoraitis: time. As I believe you all know, a significant portion of what that board does is oversee the many investments of funds that have been dedicated to the library, and he has provided a level of dedication and expertise that has really helped to grow those funds and also make sure that we're in compliance with the many regulations that fall onto the government. So I'm thrilled that he's willing to continue serving, especially as we begin to really get the new library up and off the ground. No, I just look forward to have the opportunity to serve again. I think working with the library director and advancing policy and, as the mayor said, really, and getting the community to engage with the new building. The community,

▶ 10:42 Bradley Freeman: the state invested a lot in the building, and so just to get the community completely engaged. And the library's just a great asset here in the community, and I look forward to serving, assuming that you approve that. Thank you. Any questions from my colleagues? Just a quick comment. As you know, libraries in Ward 4, I'm blown away by the new library, by the facilities, by what you offer there. I was there yesterday just for popping in and out, and it was 11:30 in the morning and it was busy. There was people reading in the reading room, people coming in and out. It's just really nice to see that library up and running and really thriving as a testament to the community. So I want to thank you for your service on that and

▶ 11:24 Kimberly Vandiver: look forward to hearing all the exciting things to come at the library as well. And with that, I'll make a motion to recommend. Second. Okay, the motion to recommend from President Freeman and seconded by Councilor Coleman. And I'll note for the record, we are joined by Councilors Karemchety and Pinocchio. I believe you're both non-voting members, is that correct? Correct. We're just early. No, council voting. We voting, member? No. Council voting members. Sorry for being late. And so we have the motion on the floor. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? So that also passes, and we'll go back with a recommendation for passage to the full council. Thank you so much for your willingness to serve and for coming before us tonight.

▶ 12:10 Jen Grigoraitis: Great. Thank you. Thanks, Mayor. The last item on our agenda is ID number 2026-1235, the appointment of Francisco Morales, 12 Patrick's Place, to the Human Rights Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire February 2029. And welcome back, Madam Mayor and Mr. Morales. Thank you, Madam Chair. There's a lot of really wonderful things about my role as the mayor, but definitely at the top of the list is getting to meet incredible new residents. And so I would put Mr. Morales in that category. Some people get voluntold to be on boards and commissions. He legitimately volunteered. And when his statement of interest and resume came across my desk, I was just so thrilled that someone like this, with

▶ 12:51 Jen Grigoraitis: his caliber of lived and professional experience, lives in our community and wants to help make it better. So I'm thrilled for his willingness to serve on the commission. That commission, which I know Counselor Kowal had the opportunity to serve on, is really at the nexus of diversity, equity, inclusion, and policy and regulation, since it's about ensuring that we're upholding civil rights within the city. So I think he's going to bring incredible experience and perspective to it, and I'm just really honored that he's willing to serve in this capacity. Thank you. Any opening comments? Thank you very much, Mayor, and it's very nice to meet you, Madam Chairman and fellow counselors. When I was looking to get involved with the Melrose community, I've lived here now

▶ 13:32 for almost four years, and we're planning to be here long term, I was really excited that this commission was an opportunity. I think it's rare for there to be a commission of citizens of a community that partake in this kind of work, really important work, and I think it's been part of my life's mission and I hope to continue that type of work in the future. So I'm really excited and hopeful that I can contribute to this opportunity. So I appreciate the time. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Any questions from the other counselors? Counselor Finocchiaro? Thank you. I just want to say thank you for stepping up and volunteering your time and- Oh, sure ... looking forward to see what you do on the commission.

▶ 14:19 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. Counselor Park? I don't do this very often because I usually have a pointy question when I speak, but I think your CV is amazing, and we're lucky to have you on board or applying for this position. I really appreciate it, and I really hope I can contribute and hopefully work with some of you all along the way. Well, you set the bar pretty high for yourself, so I- What's the will of the committee? Motion to recommend. Second. Okay, motion to recommend, Counselor Finocchiaro, and second by Counselor Park. Anyone on discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? So that will also go back with a recommendation for passage to the full council. Thank you so much for your willingness to serve, and we're so

▶ 15:12 Kimberly Vandiver: fortunate to have such a great selection of talented people in Melrose that the mayor always seems to find and bring before us. So thank you so much. With that, I believe that's the final item on our agenda. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Second. Motion to adjourn, Counselor Finocchiaro, seconded President Freeman. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? We are adjourned. Good evening. I'd like to call in response. The time is 7:03 PM on Thursday, May 21st, 2026. This is a meeting of the Appropriations and Oversight Committee. My name is Devin Romano. I'm the chair, and joining me this evening are Vice Chair Vandiver and Counselors Chen, Finocchiaro, Jamaludin, Karemčadi, Kowal, Park,

Boards & Commissions Committee — 2026-05-21

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