SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Park and Recreation Commission has three new members.
The Board of Selectmen held a joint meeting with the Commission last night and approved the appointment of Patrick Roche, David DeiDolori and Michael Massarelli. The Board approved the members unanimously but Commissioners Jeanne Reed Waldron and John Whalley voted against the three candidates proposed by Selectman Russell Fox.
Following the vote, Waldron and Whalley said they had hoped to appoint John Westcott, current maintenance director for the town.
The Commission interviewed five candidates for two seats last month after longtime commissioners Kelly Magni and Susan Grabowski resigned. Since then, commissioner Daniel Call resigned because he is moving out of town.
Two weeks ago the Board was supposed to appoint two members but delayed the vote because one member was out of town for a family emergency. At that meeting, the commissioners said they wanted to appoint members not entrenched in sports and wanted at least one member who would focus on the Swamp Trail Park and Prifti Park.
DeiDolori and Massarelli are both umpires but both new commissioners said they would serve the commission in any capacity. DeiDolori was a member of the Board of Appeals for 12 years and was an active coach for the Southwick Recreation Center for many years. He told commissioners last week that he was looking for a new way to serve the town and had time to devote to the position.
“There’s no limit on my time,” he said, noting that he is self-employed.
Roche has also served the town previously as a Park and Recreation Commissioner but he was not re-elected in the spring due to an oversight.
Roche said he has continued helping the Commission as a volunteer at Whalley Park and would like to be a member again.
Massarelli does not have a background in municipal service but he said he has a desire to serve and a flexible schedule.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I want to do something for the town as a volunteer.”
The three new commissioners must be sworn-in with the town clerk.
Waldron and Whalley said although they had hoped Westcott would join them, they were happy to have a full commission.
“Now we can meet again and get some work done,” said Whalley.
Waldron agreed.
“I am happy to have a full board and we will all work together,” she said.
