By Kyle Dante

On Wednesday, June 1, ten Somerville residents appeared before the Somerville City Council’s Appointments and Personnel Matters Committees seeking roles in the City Council or higher positions within their current city departments.

The roles covered include staffing of the Somerville Housing Authority representative (Fair Housing Commission), the Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change, the Council on Aging, and the appointment of a permanent police lieutenant.

At the June 9 City Council meeting, the Legislative Matters Committee and the Appointments and Personnel Committee division discussed unfinished agendas from their meetings this month. The Committee members were present and updated the Council on what had been accomplished.

Ten Somerville residents received recommendations to apply for city positions. Among the ten recommendations was Kevin Shackleford, a 22-year member of the Somerville Police Department (SPD). Serving as the acting SPD Lieutenant, Shackleford is noted for his work within the community.

In addition to Shackleford, the following nine were up for promotion:

• For the Council on Aging: Marian Bremer, Maclise Jean, Giuseppina Mingace, Daisy Monsalve, Edna Murray, Ronit Prawer, and Neeraj Wadhera
• For Somerville Housing Authority representative: Janine Lotti
• For the Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change: Eri Furusawa

Following the Q&A and subsequent vote, the recommended parties received a formal decision. As of this writing, two are still awaiting a decision: Shackleford and Wadhera.

There will be an upcoming hearing and subsequent decision from the Committee at their next meeting, scheduled for June 29.

As for Shackleford, he is the only one of the nine who were present currently without a formal decision. Although the SPD highly recommended him, Shackleford is in the waiting queue of the Committee. The decision will come at a future date between the SPD and the Committee about his potential promotion.

Regarding the other applicants, the Appointments and Personnel Committee has unanimously recommended their selection. As for Wadhera, a follow-up will likely occur at the June 29 meeting.

To learn more about Shackleford, or any other nominees, see the June 1, 2022 meeting video at somervillema.gov.