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Council interviews finalists and fills two school‑committee seats; legal appointment tabled over charter conflict
Summary
After personnel‑committee interviews, the council interviewed finalist pools for three appointed school‑committee seats. Donna Bertolino was selected for the education seat and Jesus Suriel for the finance seat; the legal‑seat confirmation was tabled while the city attorney researches whether charter section 5.6 bars compensated city employees from serving.
The Lawrence City Council conducted in‑public interviews and votes to fill three appointed seats on the Lawrence School Committee during its Nov. 4 meeting.
For the education seat, the council questioned three finalists — Christian Guzman, Donna Bertolino and Nelson Rosario — on collaboration with the mayor and council, handling budget conflicts, ties to the Lawrence community and resisting political pressure. After members cast name votes Donna Bertolino received a majority and was confirmed by roll call.
For the finance seat, Myra Ortiz, Martha Seibert and Jesus Suriel were interviewed; councilors raised detailed budget questions including historic shortfalls and forecasting. Jesus Suriel received a majority in the council’s name vote and was confirmed on a subsequent roll call.
A separate contested procedural matter concerned Patricia Mariano, a current school‑committee member who said she missed a personnel‑committee interview because she was hospitalized. Councilor LeBlanc moved to discharge her from the personnel committee so the full council could consider her; the motion failed (2 in favor, 6 opposed, 1 abstain).
Councilors then began interviews for the legal seat. Candidates included Sandra Edwards, Denise Molina and Michael Armano. During that discussion several members raised the city charter’s Section 5.6 language that prohibits a school‑committee member, other than the mayor, from holding a compensated city office or employment. Councilors and the city attorney disagreed on how that provision applies to the newly appointed (rather than elected) members and whether it would require resignation from an eligible city job. Because the legal question could affect eligibility, the council moved and voted to table the legal‑seat confirmation (item 453‑25) pending attorney research into the charter interpretation and any compensation conflict.
Council President Rodriguez said the council would return to the legal‑seat matter once the attorney completes his review. In the meantime the newly confirmed appointees were congratulated and the council instructed staff to send letters of appreciation to all applicants.
