During its final meeting of the year, the City Council approved several new and returning members to various City boards, notably voting to place longtime activist Gladys Vega on the Planning Board.
The vote for Vega was unanimous at 10-0, with Councillor Giovanni Recupero absent during all appointment votes.
Vega expressed her enthusiasm about taking on a more visible role in City committees, noting the ongoing need for volunteers to fill these important positions. She indicated plans to deepen her involvement in municipal affairs going forward, pending a successful tenure on the Planning Board.
In related news, Tom Standish, who chairs the Chelsea Housing Authority, announced his departure from the Board following years of significant leadership in that capacity.
Bert Taverna, a former CHA Board member, was selected to succeed Standish with a 10-0 vote.
Standish had been among the initial appointees to the reconstituted Board by the state and then-City Manager Jay Ash when the CHA entered receivership in the wake of the Michael McLaughlin scandal.
Throughout his tenure, Standish provided steady stewardship as the agency recovered from the extensive damage McLaughlin had inflicted across the organization. He guided the Board through the challenging recovery process, transforming the once-troubled CHA into a well-functioning entity.
Following these appointments, tensions emerged between Councillor Damali Vidot and Councillor Roy Avellaneda regarding nine re-appointments to various boards.
Vidot has consistently pushed for fresh perspectives on City boards and contended that the Charter mandates advertising open Board and Commission positions—a requirement that has been overlooked. Avellaneda challenged this interpretation, citing Section 4 of the Charter, which he said contained no such requirement.
City Manager Tom Ambrosino intervened to clarify that the advertising requirement does appear in Section 9 of the Charter and acknowledged the oversight. He committed to advertising openings quarterly in both English and Spanish-language newspapers.
To register her objection, Vidot voted against all nine re-appointments, which otherwise passed by 9-1 margins without significant opposition.
Planning Board member Todd Taylor faced more scrutiny, receiving approval by a 7-3 vote, with Councillors Judith Garcia, Vidot, and Avellaneda opposed.
The following individuals were approved on 9-1 votes:
- Olivier del Melle, Dudley Street, Planning Board
- Emmanuel Tellez, Broadway, Board of Health
- Robert Pereira, Gerrish Avenue, Historical Commission (replacing Ilana Ascher)
- George Pazos, Union Street, Traffic & Parking Commission
- Marlene Jennings, Breakwater Drive, Cultural Council
- Mark Rossi, Clark Avenue, License Commission
- Robert Lynch, Shawmut Street, Conservation Commission
- Frances Mascolo, Breakwater Drive, Historical Commission.