City Services committee forwards four unanimous positive recommendations for council confirmation

The City Services Committee of the Northampton City Council on Dec. 16 approved minutes from its Dec. 2 meeting and unanimously forwarded positive recommendations for four appointments to the full City Council for confirmation on Dec. 19.

Councilor Stan Moulton presided over the meeting. Councilor LaBarge reported on her interviews with Amelia Shaw and presented Shaw's background: LaBarge said Shaw moved from New York City to Northampton with her wife, studied acting at the Atlantic Acting School and the Moscow Art Theater, worked as a union stage manager, and now coordinates summer funding and stipend reviews at Amherst College. "She stated, 'I love to work on helping Northampton reclaim its reputation as an artistic hub in Massachusetts,'" LaBarge said when recounting Shaw's interview. LaBarge moved a positive recommendation for Shaw to the Arts Council; the vote to forward the recommendation to full council was unanimous.

Councilor Dubs presented Kathleen Chapman for the Human Rights Commission, summarizing Chapman's life story and civic work: Chapman moved to Northampton from Mississippi after losing her home and husband, has a history of civil-rights work, attends Northampton Housing Authority meetings, and described reparations and food access as priorities. Dubs moved a positive recommendation, which the committee also forwarded unanimously.

Chair Moulton presented Mary Penny for a six-month appointment to the three-member Board of Assessors, noting Penny's long-term Northampton residency and experience as a real-estate attorney; Moulton said David Murphy, chair of the Board of Assessors, encouraged Penny to apply. The committee discussed the board's role and membership; Councilor LaBarge disclosed a family relationship, saying Penny is her grandniece. After discussion the committee voted unanimously to forward a positive recommendation for Penny to full council.

Councilor Rothenberg reported on her interview with Benjamin Wood, describing him as a public-health consultant and a former interim director of public health for the city who is engaged in local housing work, including building an accessory dwelling unit for his adult son. Rothenberg moved a positive recommendation for Wood to the Housing Partnership; the committee voted unanimously to forward that recommendation.

Administratively, committee members agreed Laura will post the agenda for the Dec. 19 full council meeting and set the committee's Jan. 6 meeting time to 4:30 p.m. to allow members to attend a 6:00 p.m. legislative-matters session on the fossil-fuel-free ordinance. The committee adjourned following a roll call.

The four positive recommendations will appear on the Northampton City Council agenda on Dec. 19; final confirmation is scheduled for that meeting.