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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVolunteer Advisory Sub Comm. 01/24/2024Volunteer Advisory Sub -Committee Meeting Minutes for January 24, 2024 Present: Ms. Maureen Doherty and Mr. Brendan Roche attended the meeting at Town Hall in meeting room 2 A/B. Amy Donovan -Palmer, Health Director; and Marianne Staples, Town Clerk were also present to participate in the interviews. - :u • Open the Meeting ;:' a -' i The meeting was called to order by Ms. Doherty at 5:4813M. • Consideration to Approve Meeting Minutes of December 13, 2023 Motion: To approve the meeting minutes of December 13, 2023. (Roche/DoKwkje) Pa;f9es • Interview Candidate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEI)(Qacancy r TQ/ or Palinski Ms. Doherty introduced Ms. Taylor Palinski who is an 11th grade student at Mansfield High School. Ms. Doherty commented that her resume and application were filled out very well. Mr. Roche gave a brief summary of the DEI Committee. Mr. Roche then asked her to tell them about herself. Ms. Palinski responded that she participates in the varsity track team during the winter and spring and she likes to volunteer at the food pantry, Special Olympics and at the animal shelter. She stated she has also assisted her mom with fundraisers for the Mansfield Women of Today organization. Ms. Doherty then asked her what interested her in joining this committee. She responded that she was asked to help create the DEI vision statement for Mansfield Schools and served on that committee and liked the work. Mr. Roche then asked her what DEI means to her and Ms. Palinski responded that it is awareness and making sure you are including everyone and making sure you are treating others the way you want to be treated or putting yourself in someone else's shoes. Mr. Roche asked her what skills make her a strong candidate and she responded that her experience working with kids with special needs and playing on the unified basketball team has provided her with a whole new perspective. Ms. Doherty asked her if she had any questions and she asked if there have been any specific things done in the past by the DEI Committee and Mr. Roche responded that they just had their Y4 meeting so it is a new committee and they began looking at the demographics and are still in the analysis phase. The recording was paused for a few minutes. • Interview Candidate for Board of Health Vacancy —Melissa Nasiff Almeida Ms. Doherty introduced Ms. Melissa Nasiff Almeida and she then introduced Amy Donovan -Palmer the Health Agent. Ms. Doherty then asked Ms. Almeida to tell them about her background. Ms. Almeida began by stating that she graduated from Tufts with a degree in Bio-Psychology then got a Masters degree at Tufts in Public Health. She stated that she worked as an analyst before working in the family business which is now in its 5th generation. The company is a wholesaler of produce. Ms. Almeida stated that she does many things involving, food safety, administrative work, and keeps the business in compliance with the USDA and FDA. Lastly, she stated that she is opening Nasiff Marketplace in Mansfield. Mr. Roche asked her how she has been active in the community and Ms. Almeida stated that through her children more recently girl scout troop community. She stated that she has also volunteered at the Mansfield Food Panty. She then stated that with her background in Public Health she applied for the vacancy to utilize her degree and help the community she lives in and understands the importance of public health. Mr. Roche asked her if there are any other skills that make her a strong candidate. She stated that because of opening a business and working with Ms. Donovan Palmer she understands the rules and regulations and having completed an internship at the Brookline Health Department she knows the importance of the Board of Health. Ms. Doherty then asked her the ethics question. Ms. Almeida responded that she will handle a situation as a professional and be objective. She added that if she felt that her relationship was too close or if she couldn't make the decision she would remove herself from the vote. Ms. Doherty then handled it off to Ms. Donovan -Palmer to ask questions. Ms. Donovan -Palmer asked her to describe her food safety experience and how that could be beneficial to the Board. Ms. Almeida responded that she recently took the online serve safe managers course. She stated that with the Wholesale business she did a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) and whole certification program. She stated that she understands how critical it is for the vendor side and is now seeing how it all effects downstream and stressed how important it is for vendors to be safe. Ms. Donovan -Palmer then asked her how she is going to learn about the Board of Health's regulations. Ms. Almeida responded that she will be reviewing them and ask questions. • Interview Candidates for Board of Registrar of Voters Vacancy —Elizabeth Dye and Robert O'Connell Ms. Doherty introduced the Town Clerk Marianne Staples and Ms. Staples provided an overview of what the Registrar of Voters entails. Ms. Nye asked how many positions were available and Ms. Staples said there was one vacancy and it could be for a republican or a democrat because she herself is unenrolled. Ms. Doherty then asked Ms. Nye about her background education and work experience. Ms. Nye responded that she has a Bachelors in Biology and currently works at a company that does focused ultrasound in the brain and runs clinical trials. She stated that are lots of rules and ethical considerations and she has to make sure all the information is accurate. She added that the science behind it is very interesting and the goal is to develop better therapies for patients. Mr. O'Connell responded that he is retired but has a bachelor's degree from Boston College and a law degree from the University of Detroit and is licensed to practice law in Michigan and in Massachusetts. He also stated that he was an Army Officer during the Gulf War. He stated that he also had worked in public contracting and is involved with the Republican Town Committee. Mr. Roche asked the candidates how they have been active in the community. Mr. O'Connell stated that he votes and pays his taxes and since retiring he has become semi active in local politics. He stated that he wants to get active and be involved with something bigger than himself. Ms. Ney responded that she shares that same passion and wants to be involved in the community. She said that she has been on the Democratic Town Committee for twenty years, was on the Mansfield Housing Authority for seven years. She stated that this appealed to her and is way to get involved and give back. Ms. Doherty then asked what about the Board of Registrar of Voters interested them in applying. Ms. Nye responded that it aligns with her passion for keeping our democracy strong and making sure the public has faith in our system of government. Mr. O'Connell responded that all the controversary over the election in 2020 made him interested and he would like to sure everything is above board and transparent. He stated that he does not have an axe to grind or have a get even mentality, but he just wants to make everything is transparent. Mr. Roche asked if there are any skills or experiences that make them a strong candidate. Mr. O'Connell responded that his civic experience and his leadership roles. Ms. Dye responded that her passion and wanted to give back to the community. She added that she is honest and has integrity. Ms. Doherty then asked each of them the ethics questions. Ms. Dye responded that she can confidently say that she would not be influenced and would go to the rules and follow the law or policy and does not think that one member of the Board of Registrars could cause problems because there are many checks and balances. Mr. O'Connell stated that he is familiar with the State Ethics Commission and he would recuse himself if needed and he does not have any financial things that would be in conflict. • Other items not known 48 hours in advance of the meeting There were no items. • Adjourn Motion: To adjourn the January 24, 2024 Volunteer Advisory Subcommittee meeting at 6:5713M. (Roche/Doherty) Passes 2:0 Signature Prepared by Carrie Champagne YI/7 0-0e)- ( Date