Boards & Commissions Committee — 2026-08-10
Attendance
Cal Finocchiaro ; Bradley Freeman ; Elizabeth Kowal ; Christopher Park ; Kimberly Vandiver
Agenda
- CALL TO ORDER
- Attendees
- MINUTES APPROVAL
- Boards & Commissions Meeting May 21, 2026 6:45 PM
- PUBLIC COMMENT
- APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS
- Appointment of Dionysios Kaskarelis, 116 Walton Park, to the Human Rights Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February 2029.
- ADJOURNMENT
Minutes
Boards & Commissions Committee Monday, August 10, 2026, 7:00 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 7:03 PM Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Kimberly Vandiver Vice Chair Present Cal Finocchiaro Ward 6 Absent Elizabeth Kowal At-Large Present Christopher Park Ward 3 Present William Bradley Freeman President, Ex Present Officio Member Ryan Williams Chair Absent Non-voting Councilors Maya Jamaleddine, Manjula Karamcheti and Jason Chen were also present II. MINUTES APPROVAL A. Boards & Commissions Meeting May 21, 2026 6:45 PM Motion to Approve the minutes by unanimous consent without reading made by Vice Chair Vandiver All were in favor and motion passed RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] AYES: Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Kim Vandiver, Bradley Freeman III. PUBLIC COMMENT 1 When: Aug 10, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Boards & Commission Committee Meeting Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android: https://cityofmelrose- org.zoom.us/j/91494962042?pwd=2r6Th3Jt3R4JbQABmpCTlW84jTFmrk.1 Passcode:947646 Webinar ID: 914 9496 2042 Passcode: 947646 Motion to Open public comment made by Vice Chair Vandiver at 7:04 PM There were no comments on the floor or via Zoom Motion to Close public comment made by Vice Chair Vandiver at 7:04 PM IV. APPOINTMENTS/REAPPOINTMENTS
A. (ID # 2026-1415): Appointment of Dionysios Kaskarelis, 116 Walton Park, to the Human Rights Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February 2029. Mayor Grigoraitis shared that candidate Dion has deep professional experience across the Mediterranean and the United States, is an immigrant to the U.S. and a recent citizen. He brings his lived experience, his professional experience, and his academic experience to thinking through the issues of the Human Rights Commission. Dion shared that human rights has always been part of his experiences, growing up, living in different countries in the world, in Cyprus. Immigrating to the United States 6 years ago was challenging, eye-opening and valuable, and he wants to give back in any way he can. He worked on equal opportunities in the work environment and wants to be part of the Melrose community to help others. Councilor Park stated that he is happy to see Dion pursuing another public service role in the city. Motion to Recommend made by President Freeman Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and motion passed RESULTS: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] TO: City Council AYES: Elizabeth Kowal, Christopher Park, Kim Vandiver, Bradley Freeman NAYS: None ABSENT: Cal Finocchiaro, Ryan Williams 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 2 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 President Freeman at 7:09 PM Seconded by Councilor Kowal All were in favor and meeting was adjourned 3 June 9, 2026 Dear Josh and Members of the Melrose Human Rights Commission, Thank you for considering my application to serve on the Melrose Human Rights Commission. I would be honored to contribute to the Commission's work. My interest in human rights and inclusion comes from my own experiences. I grew up in a Greek foreign service family, living in nine countries across Europe and the United States by the age of twenty-four. Some of my earliest memories are from Cyprus, where I witnessed a society divided by conflict. Later, I lived in Berlin while the Wall still stood. As a child, I saw how governments could either separate people or bring them together. I came to admire the role the United States played in creating a more united Europe. My perspective was also shaped by my Greek values: eleftheria (freedom), demokratia (democracy), filotimo (honor), and filoxenia (hospitality). Through our extended Ethiopian family, I learned about Ethiopian history and culture and came to appreciate the many similarities between our cultures. Meaningful connections begin when we approach each other with openness. My own immigration journey further strengthened these beliefs. After arriving in the United States as a student, it took over six years to become a citizen. While I was fortunate to have resources and support, the process was often stressful, uncertain, and at times embarrassing. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the challenges many of my peers face while supporting families, learning a new culture, and building a life in a language that is not their own. America's story is, in many ways, a story of immigration. Generations of newcomers crossed oceans, took extraordinary risks, and worked under difficult conditions to build better lives for themselves and their families. In doing so, they helped build the communities, businesses, institutions, and infrastructure that continue to strengthen our country today. Ultimately, we all play a role in shaping our country's future, whether directly or indirectly, and that is one of the reasons I feel a responsibility to contribute to the institutions that serve our community. My wife and I moved to Melrose in 2023 to raise our family. We were drawn by the schools and quality of life, but what convinced us to stay were the people. Neighbors welcomed us. Our children play together. Melrose became home because of its sense of community. If appointed, I hope to contribute my experiences to the Commission's work and help strengthen the sense of inclusion, belonging, and community that makes Melrose such a special place to live. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Dionysios Kaskarelis DIONYSIOS KASKARELIS Melrose MA • • • LinkedIn Profile PROFILE Finance professional with over 20 years of experience across private, public, and international roles. Registered as an Investment Adviser Representative in Massachusetts under fiduciary obligations and regulatory oversight. Currently manages a real estate advisory, investment, and operating platform active in Greater Boston. Additional experience includes development finance and investment banking. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Access Properties — Melrose, MA Founder & Chief Executive Officer | 2022 – Present • Lead investment management activities including capital formation, analysis, financing, and asset management through a Massachusetts-registered investment advisory practice. • Oversee the operations of a private real estate investment vehicle. • Advise clients on acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing transactions and provide project management services for renovation, new construction, and development activities. • Develop and manage a technology-enabled investment platform designed to expand access to real estate opportunities through simple and transparent processes. European Investment Bank (EIB) — Luxembourg Senior Banking & Strategy Officer | 2018 – 2019 • Advised management regarding strategic planning and institutional lending initiatives. Head of Trust Funds & Donor Relations Unit | 2016 – 2018 • Managed grant-funded investment programs exceeding €1 billion supporting infrastructure, economic development, and technical assistance initiatives. • Directed fundraising activities resulting in over €100 million in donor commitments. • Led relationships with governments, international organizations, development institutions, and private-sector stakeholders across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. • Chaired investment committees responsible for project selection and resource allocation. Global Relationship Manager | 2008 – 2016 • Managed relationships with financial institutions participating in intermediated lending programs supporting small and medium-sized businesses in Greece and Cyprus. • Structured and negotiated financing agreements withgovernments, international organizations, and commercial banks, expanding access to finance from €250 million to more than €1 billion. • Supported financial-sector stabilization initiatives during the European sovereign debt crisis. • Conducted financial due diligence and risk assessment for investment operations. Funding Officer | 2005– 2008 • Led international capital market bond issuances across multiple currencies, supporting local market development in emerging European economies and annual borrowing programs measured in the tens of billions of euros. Investor Relations Office Assistant | 2004 – 2005 • Supported investor communications, reporting, and stakeholder engagement activities. Earlier Career • Held financial advisory positions with Atlantic Bank and Prudential Securities in New York. PUBLIC SERVICE • Public Diplomacy Volunteer, Consulate General of Greece — Boston, MA | 2020-2021 • Member, Joint Committee on Equal Opportunities, EIB — Luxembourg | 2011 – 2014 • Aircraftman, Hellenic Air Force – Tripoli, Greece | 2002 EDUCATION Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University — Medford, MA • M.A. International Relations Bayes Business School, City University of London — London, UK • M.Sc. Finance, Shipping, and Trade Carroll School of Management, Boston College — Newton, MA • B.S. Finance LICENSES & LANGUAGES • Investment Adviser Representative (Series 65) • Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson • Languages: o Fluent — English & Greek o Conversational — Italian & French
Transcript
▶ 6:51 Kimberly Vandiver: by unanimous consent to adjourn this meeting. Seeing no objections, our meeting is adjourned. In reference to the article. Good evening. The time is 7:03 PM on Monday, August 10th, 2026. This is a meeting of the Boards and Commissions Committee. I am Councilor Vanderberg, the committee vice chair. Joining me tonight are Councilor Park, Jamaleddine, Kowal, Karem Chahine, Chen, and President Freeman, ex officio. This serves as a notice of quorum for the record. In accordance with the open meeting law, this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live on MMTV. I will now motion by unanimous consent to open the floor for public comment. Seeing no objections, we are now open for public comment.
▶ 7:42 Kimberly Vandiver: Is there anyone who wishes to speak tonight on any item on tonight's agenda? And is there anyone online? No one online. Okay. And then if there's no objection, I'll motion by unanimous consent to close public comment. Seeing no objection, we are now closed for public comment. And at this time, I will motion by unanimous consent to approve without reading the minutes from the May 21st meeting. Seeing no objection, those minutes are now approved. Tonight, we have one appointment before us. This is ID number 2026-1415, the appointment of Dionysios Cascarellis at 116 Walton Park to the Human Rights Commission for a three-year term, said term to expire on the last day of February 2029, and I believe we have Mr. Cascarellis and the mayor here tonight.
▶ 8:38 Jen Grigoraitis: Good evening, Madam Chair and Councilor. Lovely to see you all. I'm thrilled to be here tonight with Dion, as I know many of us know him, for consideration of his appointment to the Human Rights Commission. I believe many of you, like me, met Dion during the campaign season last year, and while he's not at the council table, he has so much to offer Melrose, and I'm so thrilled at his willingness to serve on this important commission. In addition to deep professional experience across the Mediterranean and the United States, he also is an immigrant to the U.S. and a recent citizen. Congratulations. So brings his lived experience, his professional experience, and his academic experience to thinking through the issues of the Human Rights Commission.
▶ 9:18 So I'm thrilled to put him forward for your consideration. Thank you. And Diyam, would you like to say a few words? Sure. Thank you so much, first of all, Chair and members, and also Mayor, for that very, very kind introduction. Really appreciate being here today. Human rights has always been part of my experiences growing up, living in different countries in the world. In Cyprus, seeing a country divided with conflict, in Germany, in Berlin when the wall was up. And many other events throughout my life have really opened me up to this issue of human rights and just being able to be just aware of all these experiences that I've had and eventually, in the United States, coming as an immigrant six years ago, which was a very complicated process for me
▶ 10:17 to go through, sometimes challenging and embarrassing, but also understanding a lot about other peers who did not have the resources that I had, the support that I had to be able to go through that process has been really eye-opening, and it's something that I really value in this journey and something that now I feel I want to be able to give back in any way that I can, and this is why my interest in human rights has come about. It's also something that I've done through my professional experience. So in my previous employment, I was part of a board where we followed up on equal opportunities of other employees, and so this was something that I was looking at in detail, trying to help anybody who felt that they were
▶ 11:02 unfairly treated in that environment. So this is something that I really want to continue to do. And as a newcomer to the U.S. and also to Melrose, I feel that this is a great opportunity for me to be able to be part of the community and help out in any way that I can in the existing work of the commission, but also wider if I can provide any of my personal proposals through my experiences. So just thank you very much, everybody, for this opportunity. And Chair, obviously short ledge, again, the mayor, chair, and members today. Really appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you so much for that. Does the committee have any questions? Yes, Councilor Goodman. No questions other than the fact that, as the mayor had stated, you ran for city
▶ 11:48 Manjula Karamcheti: council, unfortunately. Not to bring up that memory, but I'm glad to see that you are pursuing another role in public service, and it's wonderful to see you back up here. So congratulations on taking the step. Thank you. Thank you very much. Appreciate that. Councilor Carmody. I just wanted to make a comment that I am really excited to see you here, and I'm not a voting member, but absolutely support your candidacy. And I'm excited that we have another active Ward 1 resident getting involved and leading in our community. Thank you. Appreciate that. President Freeman. Thank you. I think Councilor Carmody summed it up greatly, and I'd like to make a motion to recommend. Second. A motion to recommend from President Freeman, and a second Councilor Kowal.
▶ 12:40 Kimberly Vandiver: Anyone on discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? So that will go back to the full council with a recommendation for passage. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming tonight. Appreciate that. Thank you. And that is the only item on our agenda tonight, so I will now look for a motion to adjourn. So moved. Second. A motion to adjourn, President Freeman, seconded Councilor Kowal. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? We are now adjourned. Good evening. The time is 7:10 on Monday, August 10th, 2026. This is a meeting of the Legal and Legislative Committee. I'm Elizabeth Kowal, chair of this committee. This committee, we are joined by voting members Vice Chair Carm Cody, Councilor Jamaleddine, Councilor Van Devin,