Citizen Advisory Council advances a slate of commission applicants after interviews

The Citizen Advisory Council on June 8 interviewed a series of applicants for city boards and commissions and voted to advance each candidate to the next stage of the appointment process.

The council, meeting virtually, heard from applicants for the Civic Center Commission, Community Preservation Committee, Worcester Redevelopment Authority, Worcester Arts Council, the Commission on Homelessness, the Advisory Commission on African-American and Black Affairs and the Historical Commission. After brief presentations and limited follow-up questions, members cast unanimous votes to move each applicant forward for human-resources review.

Paul Giorgio, who described a long career in event management and real-estate redevelopment and noted prior service as board chair of the housing authority, said his first choice was the Civic Center Commission and also expressed interest in the Community Preservation Committee. “Once you lose history, you lose history. You don't get it back,” Giorgio said, arguing for preservation of older buildings.

Candace Mero Carlson described decades of local economic-development work and said she was the first woman to chair the city's economic-development committee while serving as District 2 city councilor; she told the council she applied for the Worcester Redevelopment Authority to ensure development benefits residents.

Julia Moroni, a small-business owner and nonprofit leader who said she draws roughly “a thousand or more people a week” to a downtown farmers market, emphasized a dual interest in historic preservation and housing as she sought a seat on the Community Preservation Committee. “I did make the Worcester Business Journal Power 100 list,” she said while describing community ties.

Abraham Parker, who described work in international public-health and current roles supporting workforce development in local group homes, told the council he hoped the Advisory Commission on African-American and Black Affairs would address language-access and confidence barriers that limit employment opportunities for immigrant communities.

Alex Monaco, a downtown BID program coordinator and practicing musician applying to the Worcester Arts Council, said the council should focus on equitable distribution of arts funding and artist visibility; he added, “Personally, I'd love to see more funk shows.”

Martha Dowy, a social worker who has worked with people experiencing homelessness and with veterans and elders, said the Commission on Homelessness should prioritize building more affordable housing. “Building housing — I think, you know, there's not enough,” she told members when asked about priorities.

Jay Anderson, a cultural-programming professional who noted an appointment as chair of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, framed the DCU Center and the Civic Center Commission as central to downtown commerce and discussed backstage and facility improvements as opportunities to grow bookings.

Michael Hoath, a property manager who said he has renovated 25 apartments in Green Hill and has restored historic features on his own properties, said he will recuse himself from matters involving his holdings and would bring technical experience in reading building filings to the Historical Commission.

Votes at a glance — applicants advanced to human-resources review: - Paul Giorgio (Civic Center Commission; Community Preservation Committee): unanimous vote to advance. - Candace Mero Carlson (Worcester Redevelopment Authority): unanimous vote to advance. - Julia Moroni (Community Preservation Committee): unanimous vote to advance. - Abraham Parker (Advisory Commission on African-American and Black Affairs): unanimous vote to advance. - Alex Monaco (Worcester Arts Council): unanimous vote to advance. - Martha Dowy (Commission on Homelessness): unanimous vote to advance. - Jay Anderson (Civic Center Commission): unanimous vote to advance. - Michael Hoath (Historical Commission): unanimous vote to advance.

The council also discussed recruitment outreach at upcoming public events and a technical-department recommendation to standardize the city's videoconference platform (to Zoom) for all public meetings; staff said details would be circulated once finalized. The meeting adjourned after the recruitment discussion.

The council’s votes were procedural approvals to advance candidates in the city's appointment process; human resources will contact successful applicants with next steps.