The Northampton City Services Committee unanimously recommended three appointments to civic boards and committees and forwarded the recommendations to the full City Council for consideration on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The committee issued positive recommendations for Clara Barnhart to the Northampton Arts Council, Casey Quinn to the Trust Fund Committee and William Obrashkin to the Northampton Housing Authority. Each recommendation passed by roll call with unanimous votes among committee members present and will appear on the City Council agenda on Dec. 18.

Barnhart, a Ward 4 resident with a master’s degree in art history from UMass Amherst and teaching experience in photography and 20th-century arts courses, told the interviewer she "wants to be involved in arts now," according to the committee report. The interviewer said Barnhart is interested in public-art projects including sculptures and pop-up exhibitions. The committee moved a positive recommendation for Barnhart’s appointment and recorded unanimous support; the recommendation will advance to the full council for final confirmation.

Councilor Clemmer presented Casey Quinn for the Trust Fund Committee. Clemmer said Quinn, originally from Australia, has lived in Northampton about 13 years, worked remotely as a senior advisor on patient-centered outcomes and has more than two decades of experience in philanthropic funding and health-care–related grantmaking. The committee clerk reminded members that the Trust Fund Committee advises the city treasurer on managing trust investments with the primary objectives of capital preservation, security, and maximizing total return while balancing risk. The committee moved a positive recommendation for Quinn; vote was unanimous.

For the Northampton Housing Authority, the committee recommended William Obrashkin to fill the vacancy left after Maureen Carney’s resignation earlier this fall. The presenting committee member summarized Obrashkin’s background: undergraduate and graduate study at Columbia University, a law degree from Western New England, long service as first justice of the housing court hearing eviction and housing-related matters, leadership as executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority, and later interim director posts and dispute-resolution work for regional housing bodies. A committee member noted Patty Healy, chair of the housing authority, had expressed support for Obrashkin’s nomination. The committee moved and approved a positive recommendation, unanimous by roll call.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of Dec. 1 meeting — motion by Councilor LaBarge; second by Councilor Clemmer. Roll call: Moulton, LaBarge, Dobbs, Klemmer — all yes; motion approved.
- Positive recommendation for Clara Barnhart to Northampton Arts Council — moved by the interviewing committee member; seconded (on the record). Roll call: LaBarge, Dobbs, Klemmer, Bolton — all yes; positive recommendation forwarded to City Council.
- Positive recommendation for Casey Quinn to Trust Fund Committee — moved by Councilor Clemmer; seconded. Roll call: Dobbs, Clemmer, Moulton, LaBarge — all yes; positive recommendation forwarded to City Council.
- Positive recommendation for William Obrashkin to Northampton Housing Authority — moved by Councilor Moulton; seconded by Councilor LaBarge. Roll call: Klemmer, Moulton, LaBarge, Dobbs — all yes; positive recommendation forwarded to City Council.
- Adjournment — motion by Councilor Duff; second by Councilor Clemmer. Roll call: Moulton, LaBarge, Dobbs, Clemmer — all yes; meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

Next steps

Each recommendation will be considered by the full Northampton City Council at its meeting on Thursday, Dec. 18. The committee noted this was its final meeting of the term and thanked members for their service.