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Rules Committee forwards positive recommendations for four Veterans Affairs Commission seats
Summary
After hearing a slate of applicants and multiple public endorsements, the committee forwarded positive recommendations for William Barnacle, Courtney Miller, Douglas Boyard and Hanley Chan to the Mayor for appointment to specified seats on the Veterans Affairs Commission.
The Rules Committee on Feb. 24 held a hearing to fill four seats on the Veterans Affairs Commission and after testimony and public endorsements moved unanimously to forward a positive recommendation for four candidates. The Clerk read that the item sought one member with a term ending Jan. 31, 2023, and three members with terms ending Jan. 31, 2024.
Applicants and supporters described experience in veterans’ benefits outreach, housing assistance, workforce development and mentoring. Among those who spoke were incumbents and returning candidates: Hanley Chan, William ("Bill") Barnacle and a slate of new applicants including Jason Chitabong, Douglas Boyard and others who emphasized veteran services and justice-court coordination.
Victor Oliveri, president of the Veterans Affairs Commission, told the committee the commission recommended Douglas Bullard (listed in the commission’s recommendation) and Courtney Miller, while also highlighting gaps in subject-matter expertise such as workforce development and housing. Public commenters gave repeated, detailed endorsements for Hanley Chan and Bill Barnacle, citing their direct work connecting veterans to benefits and services.
After deliberation the Chair moved to forward positive recommendations for the following names and seats: William Barnacle to seat 3, Courtney Miller to seat 6, Douglas Boyard to seat 8, and Hanley Chan to seat 9. The motion passed without objection. The committee asked the recommended appointees to contact the Mayor’s Office to complete formal appointment steps.
Outcome: The committee forwarded positive recommendations for four candidates to the Mayor; no final mayoral appointments were made in the committee meeting itself.
