Committee advances one appointment, forwards another with no recommendation after missing resume

At its Oct. 20 meeting the Housing, Human & Welfare Committee moved two personnel items to the full council: it forwarded AP 56 25 (Janine Tasker, Human Relations Commission) with no recommendation because committee members were unable to view the applicant’s resume on the public filing, and it gave a favorable recommendation for AP 57 25 (Valerie "Val" Bonham) to the Commission on Aging after hearing from Bonham in person.

Committee members said they could not access Tasker’s resume on the public link and raised a concern that they could not make a positive recommendation without reviewing a candidate’s supporting documents. Alderman Shandemeyer said, “I don’t feel comfortable making a positive recommendation without at least seeing the resume in front of me.” The committee therefore voted to forward AP 56 25 to the full council with no recommendation; staff agreed to verify and provide the resume ahead of the full-council meeting.

Valerie Bonham, who was present, gave an overview of her background in medical ethics and health‑care law and answered questions from the committee. Introducing herself, Bonham said, “My name is Val Bonham. I was actually born in Annapolis … I grew up here,” and described a career working at the intersection of law and medicine as the reason she seeks to serve the city’s Commission on Aging. After brief questions from the committee a motion for a favorable recommendation was made and seconded and the committee approved it by voice vote.

Both items will appear on the full council agenda; staff told the committee they will supply the missing Tasker resume or allow the council to pull the item if further documentation is required. No formal appointments were finalized at this committee meeting — the committee only issued recommendations to the full council.