HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-02-25 Volunteer Appointment Committee Minutesiq
Town of Reading
5 Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Volunteer Appointment Committee
Date: 2026-02-25 Time: 1:00 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, Director of Equity and Social Justice
Albert Pless (Remote), Marc Ortins (Remote), Kenneth Gnzzell, Catherine
Svirsky, Jessica White (Remote), Maura Drummey, Nancy Ziemlak, Richard
Hand, Kate Harrington
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Madeleine Baptiste
Topics of Discussion:
The Volunteer Appointment Subcommittee was called to order at 1:00 pm.
Marc Ordns is an incumbent associate member of the Climate Advisory Committee and is seeking to fill the full
member vacancy. He shared that he has enjoyed being a part of this committee for over a year and
appreciates his fellow board members' level of engagement.
Kenneth Grizzeff is a new applicant for the Town Forest Committee and Trails Committee. He noted he was
recently appointed to the Permanent Building Committee and his work in project management draw him to that
committee. He said he is interested in being involved with both Town Forest and Trails committees.
Catherine Svirsky is a new applicant for the Town Forest Committee. She noted that she has already been
attending meetings as a member of the public and she is looking to be more involved to be more informed of
projects going on in Town.
Jessica White is a new applicant for the Commission on Disabilities. She noted that she is interested in this
commission due to her career in supporting individuals with disabilities of all ages and in her current role at
Tufts University where she runs their accessibility office. Ms. White shared she is passionate about advancing
and advocating people with disabilities' rights and access. In her current position she focuses heavily on ADA
compliance as well as celebrating accessibility in the community.
Maury Drummey is a new applicant for the Commission on Disabilities. She said she is interested in this
commission because she is passionate about disability, advocacy. She has worked as a teacher, page educator
and interned at an advocacy organization, Federation for Children with Special Needs, where she worked with
families and the community to teach them about special education law. She currently works at the
Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates, a statewide organization to help people with disabilities
and family members of those with disabilities. She noted that she is driven by advocacy and was excited to see
this opportunity in her own community and in being a part of this commission.
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Nancy Demlak is a new applicant for the Recreation Committee. She noted that she is passionate about
volunteering and was a member of the Council on Aging. She is interested in bringing her perspective to the
Recreation Committee and thinks with her volunteer experience, she would be a valuable contributor.
Kate Harrington is an incumbent associate member of the Council on Aging and is seeking to fill the full
member vacancy. She noted that she has learned a lot in her time as an associate member and she is looking
to contribute more with the Reading Center for Active Living (ReCAL) building.
Ms. Murphy and Ms. Rose -Gillis agreed they had no edits to the prior meeting minutes that were up for review.
Ms. Murphy suggested checking with Karen Gately Herrick to note K she had any changes before they released
the minutes as final.
The meeting adjourned at 2:31 pm.
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