Charter committee recommends confirmations, advances assessor appointment and board-assessors change

The charter committee voted favorable action on three appointment items and advanced an administrative amendment affecting the Board of Assessors.

The committee approved confirmation votes for three nominations presented together. The text of the agenda identified an appointment to a cultural/council body (read as "Lushy Pavilion" in the transcript), the reappointment of Carol Garrett for a two-year term expiring May 1, 2027, and an appointment to the city assessor position listed in the agenda with a one-year term expiring May 1, 2026.

Ben Zimpena, who identified himself at the meeting as the acting director of assessing, appeared before the committee and outlined his experience. "My name is Ben Zimpena. I've been the director act of, of assessing for the past month or so now," he said, describing prior roles including assistant assessor work in Boston and more than three years with the city.

Committee members asked why the assessor appointment in the agenda was for a one-year term; a staff member said the committee’s paperwork did not make the reason clear. Committee members recommended favorable action on the three items.

Later in the meeting the committee considered an administrative order to rescind the designation of the Board of Assessors as a special municipal employee effective June 30, 2025. The city clerk suggested amending that effective date to July 1, 2025, so the former assessor could remain available through the end of the incumbent’s final day. The committee approved the amendment and voted to refer the order to the City Council with a favorable recommendation.

Ending: The confirmed appointments and the amended rescission order will be forwarded to the City Council for final action; the committee did not provide further detail on the rationale for the one-year assessor term in the meeting record.