Council appoints Robert Parente to Board of Education and approves several other appointments

The Bristol City Council accepted three resignations and approved a slate of appointments across multiple boards and commissions during its February meeting.

Acting town and city clerk Marina read resignations submitted by Cameron Kroll (alternate, Fair Rent Commission), Russell Anderson (Board of Education) and Rob Parente (Parks & Rec board). The council approved sending letters of thanks.

Appointments approved included Connie Cohen (an unaffiliated voter) as an alternate member of the Fair Rent Commission representing landlords with a term to May 2028; Jason Messier (Republican) as an alternate to the Bristol Historic District Commission with a term to February 2031; and the reappointment of Frank Stoske (Democrat) to another term on the Public Works Board through February 2029. The council also appointed Zachary Mayer to the Bristol Early Childhood Collaborative through August 2026 and approved a slate of community and professional representatives for the Bristol Central High School roof-replacement building committee.

Mayor Ellen Zapposassu then nominated Robert (Rob) Parente to fill the Republican vacancy on the Board of Education. Following a motion and second, Parente was sworn in by the clerk and spoke to the council, thanking members and emphasizing his focus on supporting teachers, administrators and students. Parente’s professional background was outlined by the mayor during the nomination; the mayor referenced Parente’s prior service as city treasurer and his education-administration experience.

The council approved the nomination by voice vote and welcomed Parente to the Board of Education.