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Worcester Citizen Advisory Council approves nominees to multiple advisory commissions
Summary
At its May 14 meeting the Worcester Citizen Advisory Council voted to forward several applicants to the city's appointment process for advisory commissions, including the African American and Black Affairs Commission, the LGBTQ+ Commission, the Historical Commission, the Worcester Ballpark Commission and the Urban Forestry Tree Commission.
Worcester's Citizen Advisory Council on May 14 voted to advance multiple nominees for appointment to city advisory commissions, approving each nominee by voice vote.
The council approved Magdalene Margielo for the African American and Black Affairs Commission; Gary Hunter, Jules Troba, and Anne Harvey for seats on the LGBTQ+ Commission; Daniel McAuliffe for the Historical Commission; Michael Murphy for the Worcester Ballpark Commission; Maureen Schwab for the Urban Forestry Tree Commission; and Miriam Yontin for the African American and Black Affairs Commission. Each nominee spoke briefly about their background and priorities before the council voted.
The moves matter because advisory commissions make recommendations that can shape city policy and program priorities. Jeanne (staff) reminded the meeting that once the CAC nominates a candidate, the human resources office will contact applicants with next steps.
Most nominees described volunteer or professional experience that they said is relevant to the commissions they seek. Magdalene Margielo told the council, "I am applying for the advisory commission on African American and Black affairs," and said she returned to Worcester after studying health law and public health strategy. Gary Hunter, who applied for the LGBTQ+ Commission, urged stronger city coordination and community funding and told the council, "I think we should have, a a center for youth, gay youth, along with, to to go and have some, some, maybe some counseling and help them come out into the world." Michael Murphy, a long-time volunteer and commercial loan officer, said he was applying to continue work he described as promoting economic and civic opportunities tied to the ballpark: "I think the ballpark provides such great opportunities, both from an economic standpoint, as well as, a civic pride standpoint." Maureen Schwab, applying for the Urban Forestry Tree Commission, said she was motivated by neighborhood heat-island issues: "I live in a heat island." Jules Troba highlighted past work on nondiscrimination ratings and said he helped raise the city's HRC rating in prior efforts. Miriam Yontin described a public health background and said she wanted to "support the community of color" through commission work.
Each nomination was moved forward by the CAC and recorded as approved in the meeting transcript. Votes were taken by roll call; the recorded responses show the CAC members present voted in favor of the nominees. Jeanne and Ginny handled roll calls and vote tallies during the meeting. After the votes, the council noted that nominees will be contacted by human resources for the next steps in the appointment process and that formal appointment notices and city council agenda placement follow human resources and city procedures.
The CAC concluded the interviews and moved on to a recruitment and outreach agenda item. The council said its next regular meeting will be Wednesday, June 11, in a hybrid format with an in-person room in the Esther H. Chamber.
Ending: The CAC said appointed nominees will receive follow-up from the human resources office and that appointments will appear on the city council agenda according to the city's administrative schedule.
