HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-19 Volunteer Appointment Committee MinutesTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes
DC.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Volunteer Appointment Committee
Date: 2026-02-19 Time: 4:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Business Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Melissa Murphy, Karen Rose -Gillis
Members - Not Present:
Others Present:
Executive Assistant Maddie Baptiste, Joe Benassi (Remote), Paul Heithaus
(Remote), Ron Powell, John O'Neill, Nicole Hunt, Michelle Greenwalt, Michele
Clopper (Remote), Teresa Teixeira, John Halsey
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Madeleine Baptiste
Topics of Discussion:
The Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee was called to order at 4:30 pm.
Interview Incumbents and New Applicants for Volunteer Boards and Committees:
Joe Benassi is a new applicant for the Commission on Disabilities. He cited his personal experience of having
a physically disabled family member and spoke of his passion in helping people with disabilities. He noted that
he is the president of a chanty that he started to aid in this passion. Mr. Benassi noted that he hopes to bring
awareness and education to people surrounding the needs of people with disabilities and he believes that he
can bring a lot of perspective and knowledge to this Board.
Paul Heithaus is a new applicant for the Housing Authority. While he understands that there are no current
vacancies on the Housing Authority, he wanted to learn more about the Affordable Housing Trust Committee
and KRG said those spots will be open later in the year. He is a long-term resident of Reading and wants to
contribute to public health or housing committees due to his work experience and background.
Ron Powell is an incumbent associate member of the Council on Aging and is seeking to fill the full member
position. He shared that he also serves as the COA's liaison to the PBC and also serves on the ReCAL working
group. He is passionate about his involvement and enjoys working with the groups. He thinks he brings a
unique perspective and informs conversation.
John O'Neill is a new applicant for the Council on Aging. He said he used to be the director of
Somerville/Cambridge Elder Services and of Mystic Valley. Mr. O'Neill noted that the ReCAL project got him
interested in being more involved in the capacity of this committee. He shared that he thinks it is important to
give insight to the project and provide the entire community with more space to have meetings, programs, etc.
and cater the space to everyone's needs. He stated his thoughts that intergenerational programming is
something he is passionate about.
Nicole Hunt is a new applicant for the Commission on Disabilities. She noted that she is a new resident of
Reading and cited her experience as a mother to a son with neurodevelopmemal disability. She shared that her
interest in this commission comes from her personal experience and wanting to help serve those, of all ages,
who have disabilities in Reading.
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Michelle Greenwalf is a new applicant for the Commission on Disabilities. She shared that she has personal
experience with a child who has a disability and she is interested in serving on the committee to bring her
perspective and more awareness to the Town.
Michele Clapper is a new applicant for the Commission on Disabilities. She noted that interest in the
commission stems from her career as an occupational therapist and extensive work with disability services
She stated that her passion is to improve accessibility and to use her knowledge to bring awareness to
Reading.
Teresa Teixeira is a new applicant for the Commission on Disabilities. She shared that she is interested in
serving on this commission due to her experience with having a child with disabilities. She noted that she did
not have board or committee experience before, but she participated in the Reading Special Education Parent
Advisory Council (SEPAC) for a long time and the Understanding for Disabilities program through the schools.
John Halsey is a new applicant for the Commission on Disabilities. He stated that he is interested in this
commission and has prior experience as a Select Board member and a Retirement Board member. He noted
that he is passionate about accessibility and interacting with others to improve accessibility in Reading. He
stated that he has a preference to be a full member of the commission.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.
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