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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-06-15 Volunteer Appointment Committee MinutesOr$ r O is r '6J9 INCOaoOaP� Town of Reading Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: t_t E1VEU WN CLtL M ;SS. Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee Date: 2015 -06 -15 Time: 6:05 Pr�'��5 JUN 214 P Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: General Business Attendees: Members - Present: Kevin Sexton, John Halsey Members - Not Present: Others Present: Location: Berger Room Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Beth Sherlund, Nancy Dockter, Michael Flynn, Nora Bucko, Jane Soloway, Julie Barber, Pooja Parsons, Michael Bourque, Dan Ford, Lisa Egan, and Richard Robbins Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Secretary Topics of Discussion: Reorganization On a motion by Halsey seconded by Sexton, Sexton was nominated to be the VASC Chair and then approved by a 2 -0 vote. The following are re- arranged so applicants for a common board are listed together, in the order they were interviewed. Board of Health - Beth Sherlund Ms. Sherlun is a veterinarian, with a business on north Main Street. She is familiar with the master planning effort underway by the Board of Health and Health division and thought it would be a good time to volunteer. Mr. Sexton asked if she was aware of the time commitments, and she was. She said she has flexibility in her schedule as meetings are needed. Mr. Halsey asked how long she owned the animal clinic, and she said for almost two years. He noted that he was the liaison between the Board of Selectmen and Board of Health, and that communication was going well. Mr. Sexton asked if she had any preference between a 1 -year or 3 -year term, and she did not. He asked if she had any questions for the VASC, and she asked about the animal control function. Mr. LeLacheur noted that the town was in discussions with other communities to share the work regionally, and increase what the town is doing. She was strongly in favor of more coverage and offered her services as would be helpful. Page 1 1 Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee Minutes - June 15 2015 - page 2 Board of Health - Nancy Dockter Ms. Docktor expressed interest in being an Associate member. She was familiar with the health master planning as she has attended a few recent board meetings, as Mr. Halsey noted. Mr. LeLacheur asked if she would agree to accept a one -year term and then if another applicant was interested, she could `step down', and she agreed. Later she decided the one year term would be fine as is. She asked about the desired change in regional affiliations, as she also would like to rejoin well - regarded Andover, a district Reading was in before the Melrose /Wakefield regionalization. Mr. LeLacheur replied that he had heard a lot of interest in making that change and saw no impediments if the Board of Health were interested. Mr. Sexton asked if she had other questions, and she asked who the other candidate was for the Board of Health. When she learned it was Ms. Sherlund she was quite excited at the prospect of working together. Conservation Committee - Michael Flynn Mr. Flynn moved to town one year ago. Mr. Sexton asked if he was familiar with the time commitment and Mr. Flynn said that he was, as he has met with the Conservation Chair to discuss and was interested in applying. He is also aware of the general projects in front of the CONSCOM. Mr. Halsey said it was important on any committee that all members feel they have the right to express their own opinion, and asked Mr. Flynn if this would be an issue, and he said it would not. Mr. Sexton emphasized that volunteers should be responsible to the entire town's standpoint, and not a personal agenda. Mr. Halsey added that volunteer boards have power and should work with the residents to set a common course forward. Mr. Flynn agreed and said the first role of any volunteer board is to collect all the information before coming to any conclusions. Mr. Sexton asked if he had any questions, and he asked more about the appointment process, which was answered. Mr. LeLacheur asked if he had any conflicts, and Mr. Flynn replied that he rarely works in the Northshore. Cultural Council - Nora Bucko Ms. Bucko described her 20+ years at BioGen, and that her background was nursing and drug safety. She added that she enjoys dance and music, as well as the library and related activities. Mr. LeLacheur briefly described the informal cultural group that has been meeting for the past year. John Halsey added that cultural activities are often less organized and that has no impact on their success. Mr. LeLacheur added that the Cultural Council is a formal body since state grant funding is involved. Mr. Sexton asked about the time commitment, which was fine. Mr. Halsey asked if there were any questions they could answer, and Ms. Bucko replied that she has attended a previous meeting and had no questions. Cultural Council - Jane Soloway & Julie Barber Ms. Soloway explained that she was newly retired as a bookkeeper, and a friend of hers is Chair of the Cultural Council, so she is familiar with their work. She is especially interested in the financial aspect (grants) and would be able to assist with the annual process. Page 1 2 Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee Minutes - June 15, 2015 - page 3 Ms. Barber is new to Reading from Charlestown. She works in grant allocations at a large global bank, and is also interested in the cultural aspect of the council. Mr. Sexton asked both candidates if they were familiar with the meeting schedule and could volunteer the time needed, and they both agreed that they were available and interested. Usually the council has very few meetings in the summer months. Mr. Halsey asked if they had any questions, and they did not. Council on Aging - Pooja Parsons Ms. Parsons explained that she had recently attended a COA meeting and spoke to Human /Elder Services Administrator Jane Burns about volunteer opportunities. She is a substitute teacher in the Reading Public schools, and has lived in Reading for nearly five years after previously living in Wakefield. Mr. LeLacheur will check with Town Counsel on potential conflicts or the appearance of a conflict. Mr. Sexton asked her why the COA appealed to her, and she said she likes to help people, she is flexible and enjoys learning. She would prefer a one -year term. Mr. Halsey asked if she had any questions and she replied that she did not, but she noted that she would enjoy the balance of working with younger parents and students as well as seniors. Town Forest Committee - Michael Bourque Mr. Bourque moved to Reading in 1988 and has been involved with the Boy Scouts since 1995, and thinks the Town Forest is a great resource. He said his interest stems from the damage currently being done to the forest, in the form of trash and dog waste that is not properly attended. Mr. Halsey asked if he saw opportunity for public /private interactions, and Mr. Bourque said he did. He was appreciative over the recent past that both dog walkers and scouts had worked together to find common ground as well - there was simply no reason to be at odds with each other. Mr. Sexton asked if he was familiar with the meeting schedule, and he replied that it would be no problem. He was fine with being considered as an Associate member. Town Forest Committee - Dan Ford Mr. Ford described that his nephew was a forester, which had stimulated his interest in the committee. He went on to detail that interest, and that he had been in both cub scouts and boy scouts when he was younger, which he discussed with Mr. Halsey. He was fine with being considered as an Associate member. Mr. Sexton asked if he was familiar with the meeting schedule, and he replied that he was. Town Forest Committee - Nancy Docktor Ms. Docktor said she was also interested in being considered for an Associate position on the Town Forest Committee. She wondered if there was a more efficient way to run the sign -up process for use of the Town Forest, and would like to consider taking that over from the DPW. Mr. Sexton asked if she was familiar with the meeting schedule, and she replied that she was. Mr. Halsey asked if she had any questions and she did not. Page 1 3 Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee Minutes - June 15 2015 - page 4 Fall Street Faire - Lisa Egan Ms. Egan described her current role with the Reading North Reading Chamber of Commerce, and she felt as a Reading resident she was interested in exploring the future format of this committee. She said that a close affiliation with this committee fits the vision of the RNR Chamber. Mr. Halsey asked what she would do if there were a conflict between the FSF and RNR Chamber, and she replied that her duty was to her employer and that she may need to step out and recuse herself sometimes. She was especially interested in stepping into this role as a liaison to the businesses involved in the FSF. Mr. Sexton asked if she was familiar with the time commitment and she said that she was. Housing Authority - Richard Robbins Mr. Robbins noted that while he had not yet attended a meeting, he did review past meeting Minutes and had also looked their budget over. He agreed with Mr. LeLacheur that some space in Tannerville was not handicapped accessible and that did cause residents some issues. Mr. Sexton asked if he was familiar with the time commitment and he said that he was. On a motion by Halsey seconded by Sexton, the VASC adjourned at 9:20pm by a 2 -0 vote. Respectfully submitted, Secretary Page 1 4