Framingham appointments committee advances nominees to police advisory, mosquito control and cultural councils

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — The Framingham City Appointments Committee on April 3 advanced five nominees to advisory bodies, voting to forward the candidates to the full City Council for confirmation.

The committee, chaired by Councilor Leslie Wade Harvey, voted to advance Wayne Clark and Linda (last name not provided) to the Police Advisory Council, Christian Rivera to the Eastern Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission (EMMCC), and Damon (last name not provided) and Steve Strait to the Cultural Council.

The action matters because advisory boards provide community input and oversight on public safety, public health and cultural programming; the nominees will next be scheduled for full council confirmation and for swearing-in notices from city staff.

Wayne Clark, introduced by the committee as a mayoral appointee, told the panel he is a retired Boston Police Department officer with about 31 years of service and a degree in business administration from Boston University. "I know what the police officers can do, what's expected of them, and what they can't do," Clark said, noting experience as a patrol officer, detective and sergeant detective. The committee moved to advance his nomination; the vote recorded by name in the meeting transcript was unanimous in favor and the committee chair said Clark will be placed before the next City Council meeting for final confirmation.

Linda, whose surname was not provided in the transcript, described herself as a medical technologist and an emergency room nurse of 44 years who has worked closely with police and emergency responders. In her statement she cited volunteer work, participation in drug take-back events and experience on a condominium board. The committee advanced her nomination to the Police Advisory Council; her stated precinct was Precinct 8, District 6 and the transcript notes her term end date only as "June 30" (year not specified).

Christian Rivera, identified as a public health inspector for the city and a Framingham native, said the Eastern Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission uses a science-based, multi-community approach to mosquito surveillance and treatment and cited concerns such as West Nile virus and La Crosse (identified in the meeting as "bridal E"/La Crosse in the discussion). "I'm happy to be nominated," Rivera said, adding the commission can use larval treatments and, in higher-risk situations, adulticide application. The committee advanced his nomination; a term end date was not specified in the meeting remarks.

Damon (surname not provided) described founding a youth program, I Believe Academy, and running a construction company while volunteering in middle schools; he said he aims to bring cultural diversity and youth enrichment to the Cultural Council. "Volunteering has really made me a better person and I look forward to continuing to serve and leave Framingham better than I found it," Damon said. Steve Strait, described by committee staff as a longtime musician and communications professional, said he would bring event-organization and arts experience to the Cultural Council. Both nominees were advanced by unanimous committee vote.

The committee also approved draft minutes from a prior meeting (the minutes were read in the meeting as "02/03/2825" in the transcript; the committee discussion indicates the intended date was Feb. 3, 2025). The minutes were approved with one abstention by Councilor Leslie Wade Harvey.

Votes at a glance

- Wayne Clark — Police Advisory Council; term end 06/30/2027 (as stated for Clark); outcome: advanced to full council for confirmation; tally: 3 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain (recorded in meeting as unanimous).

- Linda (surname not provided) — Police Advisory Council; precinct listed as Precinct 8, District 6; term end: June 30 (year not specified); outcome: advanced to full council for confirmation; tally: 3 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

- Christian Rivera — Eastern Middlesex Mosquito Control Commission (EMMCC); term end not specified; outcome: advanced to full council for confirmation; tally: 3 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

- Damon (surname not provided) — Cultural Council; term end 06/30/2027 (as stated for Damon during the meeting); outcome: advanced to full council for confirmation; tally: 3 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

- Steve Strait — Cultural Council; term end 06/30/2028; outcome: advanced to full council for confirmation; tally: 3 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.

- Approval of draft minutes from prior meeting (read in transcript as "02/03/2825", recorded here as Feb. 3, 2025): outcome: approved; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Councilor Leslie Wade Harvey abstained).

Committee chair Councilor Leslie Wade Harvey thanked each nominee for volunteering and noted that Nicole (the city's CPO, who assisted with outreach) will contact nominees about swearing-in and next steps. Nominees will be placed on the City Council agenda for confirmation and staff follow-up.

Background/clarifying details

- Wayne Clark: retired Boston Police Department officer with about 31 years of service; listed residence in Framingham since 2019; Clark's nomination was described as a mayoral appointment. Term end listed in the meeting for Clark: 06/30/2027.

- Linda: identified only by first name in the transcript; described as a medical technologist and emergency room nurse of 44 years; precinct given as Precinct 8, District 6; term end read in the meeting as June 30 but the year was not specified in the transcript.

- Christian Rivera: identified in the meeting as a public health inspector for the city and a Framingham native; the commission discussed larval treatments and adulticide as the types of responses the EMMCC may use; term end not specified.

- Damon: identified in the meeting as active with a youth program called I Believe Academy, owner of a construction company, and a volunteer; term end stated in the meeting as 06/30/2027.

- Steve Strait: presented as a longtime musician, former DJ and communications professional; term end given as 06/30/2028.

Next steps

Nominees advanced by the Appointments Committee will be scheduled for confirmation by the full Framingham City Council; staff indicated they will email nominees about swearing-in and scheduling. The committee adjourned after taking the votes.