WESTFIELD – At the second meeting of 2018 of the reconfigured City Council Thursday, several new appointments were sent to the Personnel Action Committee (PAC), and several others came back to the City Council for final approval.
During his briefing, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan submitted two new members for the Council on Aging Board of Directors. He said COA Executive Director Tina Gorman has a limit of two terms on the board. He submitted the appointment of Eileen Rockwal as a member to replace Barbara Sokolowski, and Kerry Ann Kielbasa to replace John Leary, Jr.
City Councilor Cindy C. Harris
Another new appointment is Jeffrey L. Gosselin as a member of the Commission for Citizens with Disabilities, to replace Paul V. Condarcuri, who is transferring out of town. Gosselin, who is an Autism Assistant at JFK Middle School in Northampton, previously served on the School Committee. PAC chair and At-large Councilor Cindy C. Harris said all three will be coming before the committee.
Final approval was granted unanimously for five other appointments, including Cindy Gaylord as a member of the Historical Commission. Harris said Gaylord is passionate about her work, having been involved in the Old Burying Ground, the Historical Walking Tour, and the West Farms Schoolhouse, a one-room school house that the Council also acted on to transfer under the Historical Commission at the meeting. Gaylord also chairs the Historical sub-committee for the Westfield 350th Anniversary in 2019.
“Our citizens are extremely fortunate to have Mrs. Gaylord on the committee,” Harris said.
Reappointed to a full-term on the Park and Recreation Commission for Ward 5 was Michael Tirrell, who was recently appointed to fill a vacancy on the Commission. Harris said he brings insight on the use and maintenance of Westfield facilities. A new appointment for Park and Rec Ward 2 was Meagan L. Laramee, replacing Adam Rivera. Harris said Laramee moved to Westfield three years ago, and has a “love of parks.”
John Bowen, who has been serving as an alternate to the Planning Board, was appointed as a full-time member, replacing Carl Vincent. Harris said Bowen, who resides in Ward 1, is a good appointment for the board, and is active in many other areas in the city.
Peter Cowles was appointed as the new Media Specialist for Westfield at Thursday’s City Council meeting. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The City Council also approved the appointment of Peter Cowles, Jr. as the Media Systems Specialist for a one-year term. Cowles, who has been a communications specialist in the city’s Technology Center, brings a wealth of technical experience to the position, including radio and emergency broadcasting. He also was the executive producer of the Softball World Series and the Babe Ruth World Series broadcasts.
Harris said nine applications were received for the position, and three were interviewed, with Cowles selected. At-large Councilor Nicholas J. Morganelli, Jr. said his experience with Cowles has been very positive, particularly involving the “Babe Ruth World Series.” Morganelli called Cowles a “hard worker.”
Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise agreed with Morganelli, adding that he hoped Cowles, who was present at the meeting, would be able to help the Council videotape sub-committee meetings. Ward 1 Councilor Mary Ann Babinski also agreed, saying, “On top of all those wonderful qualifications, he’s a resident of Ward 1.”
Cowles will be working with the city and Westfield Public Schools to set up a new broadcasting studio at Westfield Technical Academy, which will provide public access as well as a new Audio-Visual Tech shop for the school.
