Lawrence personnel committee reaffirms appointments, forwards extension of acting planning director to full council

The Lawrence City Council Personnel Committee on Monday re‑voted on a slate of personnel items that had to be refiled after the prior meeting was not posted in the document center, City Clerk Eileen Bernell said.

“The meeting was not properly posted,” Bernell told the committee, explaining the curative session and urging members to consider revoting on five items from the earlier meeting.

The committee forwarded an extension of the temporary appointment of Santiago Matias as acting director of planning and development for 90 days. Octavian Spanner, senior adviser to the mayor, presented the administration’s request; the clerk read Matias’s previously recorded remarks outlining departmental reorganization, a planned zoning‑reform initiative and a proposal to relocate the planning department from 360 Marramac Street to a city‑owned building at 255 Essex Street.

Matias’s presentation, as read into the record, said staff collaboration had increased and that the department aimed to modernize zoning ordinances to reduce reliance on variances and special permits. IT Director Carlos Castillo told the committee extending fiber service at the leased Marramac Street location would cost about $80,000; the current lease was reported around $10,000 per month. Councilor Franklin Miguel moved to send the item to the full council as a committee report; Vice President Anna Levy seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The committee also addressed appointments to municipal boards and commissions. Document 205‑26, the appointment of Carmen Garcia King to the Lawrence Municipal Airport Commission, included a June 1 city‑attorney opinion read into the record that found no state law or local ordinance barring her service despite city employment. Ms. Garcia King appeared and thanked the council but said she would withdraw her nomination; the committee approved the withdrawal unanimously.

On the Conservation Commission nomination, the committee heard from the applicant who joined by Zoom and identified herself as Dan Valencia. Valencia described long‑standing local ties, volunteer work with Groundwork Lawrence and an interest in wetlands and environmental stewardship. The committee voted unanimously to send the nomination to the full council with a favorable recommendation.

Two candidates were forwarded to the Lawrence Redevelopment Authority. Pedro Tahada introduced Rolando Dcastro, who described more than 25 years of professional experience in engineering and planning and said he has lived in Lawrence about 12 years; the committee voted unanimously to send his appointment as a committee report. Robert J. Blackwell summarized his real‑estate and redevelopment background, and the committee likewise voted unanimously to forward his appointment.

All committee decisions were taken as curative re‑votes intended to mirror prior action while correcting the prior posting error. The committee adjourned at 7:28 p.m.

Actions and next steps: each item forwarded by the Personnel Committee will appear on the full council agenda for final action. The clerk said the committee members may change recommendations but encouraged consistency with the earlier public discussion.