City Council appointments made by Mayor Cockayne

COUNCIL LIAISONS

Board of Park Commissioners Calvin Brown

Housing Authority of Bristol Richard Miecznikowski

Commission on Aging Mary Fortier

Board of Library Directors Calvin Brown

Board of Water Commissioners Eric Carlson

Bristol Community Organization ______ Mary Fortier

Board of Education Henri Martin

Commission on Disabilities Calvin Brown

Bristol Downtown Development Corp. Henri Martin

Mayor’s Task Force on AIDS_______________ _Ellen Zoppo-Sassu

Bldg. Comm. Renov. Beals Senior Comm. Center Mary Fortier

MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS  

Hoppers-Birge Pond Richard Miecznikowski

Pine Lake Area Study Committee Mary Fortier

Mayor’s Task Force on Energy Consumption Calvin Brown

Code Enforcement Ellen Zoppo-Sassu (Chair)

Fields Study Committee_____________________ Henri Martin

Fire Risk Assessment Committee______________Calvin Brown

Marketing Task Force_______________________Henri Martin

Northeast School Roof Replacement Bldg. Comm.Calvin Brown

Acting Mayor Henri Martin

COUNCIL COMMITTEES

Salary Committee Henri Martin, Richard Miecznikowski, Ellen Zoppo-Sassu

Real Estate Committee______________________ Eric Carlson, Mary Fortier, Richard Miecznikowski

Ordinance Committee Eric Carlson, Calvin Brown, Richard Miecznikowski

Building Committee Henri Martin, Calvin Brown, Ellen Zoppo-Sassu

Veterans Committee Eric Carlson

5 Year Capital Improvement Committee Henri Martin, Mary Fortier, Richard Miecznikowski

Bristol/Burlington Health District Ellen Zoppo-Sassu

School Readiness (part of Board of Ed) Henri Martin

Public Hearing & Assessment Committee Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, Henri Martin, Eric Carlson

Economic Development Committee Eric Carlson

COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BOARDS

Bristol Development Authority Henri Martin

Board of Fire Commissioners Richard Miecznikowski

Board of Police Commissioners Calvin Brown

Board of Public Works Henri Martin, Eric Carlson, Ellen Zoppo-Sassu

Retirement Board Richard Miecznikowski

Transportation Committee Mary Fortier

Youth Commission Calvin Brown

West Bristol School Building Committee_______ Richard Miecznikowski

Forestville School Building Committee_________ Mary Fortier

Renovations Committee Engine Co. #4 _________Richard Miecznikowski

Manross Library Renovations Committee_______Mary Fortier and Board of Finance member

(Appointments highlighted in yellow will be made at the December City Council meeting.)
Copyright 2013 All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

City councilors happy with committee assignments

All six city councilors said Tuesday they’re happy with the way Mayor Art Ward divvied up committee assignments and council appointments.
“I’m very excited about them – and ready to get going,” said city Councilor Kevin Fuller, a Democratic newcomer.
The mayor met with each of the six councilors elected last week – four Democrats and two Republicans – to ask what panels they were most interested in serving on. Ward said he tried to make sure everyone generally got what they wanted.
The most senior councilor, Democrat Kevin McCauley, emerged as the chair of two key panels, the Real Estate and Ordinance committees.
McCauley said the selection process “really worked out well” and that he’s content.
“It’s a bit overwhelming,” he added.
Both other veteran councilors, Republican Ken Cockayne and Democrat Cliff Block, snagged the leadership of a committee as well.
Block heads the Building Committee while Cockayne will be at the helm of the Council Matters Committee, which mostly deals with claims against the city.
Freshman Republican David Mills secured some important assignments as a member of the Public Works Board, the Ordinance Committee and the 5-Year Capital Improvement Committee, which has the power to approve or reject projects. He is also the liaison to the Park Board.
Fuller was tapped to serve on the Police Board as well as the Capital Improvement panel, the Real Estate Committee and the Bristol-Burlington Health District. He is also the liaison to the Water Board and Housing Authority.
City Councilor Kate Matthews, a newly elected Democrat, will hold a seat on the Retirement Board and the Transportation Committee. She also has a slot on the Salary Committee, which Ward plans to chair.
Matthews said she is most pleased with her assignment to the Forestville School Building Committee, which is crucial to her 3rd District. “That’s my cup of tea,” she said.
Cockayne kept his seat on the Bristol Development Authority and will also serve on the Youth Commission and West Side School Building Committee.
Block, who called himself “more than happy,” remains as the liaison to the Board of Education and holds a seat on the Fire Board and Public Works Board.
Ward said he never imagined he could get the appointments done in a week, but everyone proved cooperative so it was possible to do the work.
Here's the complete list of all the council appointments:

COUNCIL BOARDS

COUNCIL LIAISONS (No Confirming Votes Necessary)

Fed. Hill District Committee____Kevin McCauley
Board of Park Commissioners David Mills
Housing Authority of Bristol Kevin Fuller
Commission on Aging David Mills
Board of Library Directors Kate Matthews
Board of Water Commissioners Kevin Fuller
Bristol Community Organization Kate Matthews
Board of Community Services Ken Cockayne
Board of Education Cliff Block
Commission on Disabilities Kate Matthews
Forestville Village Assoc.____ David Mills
Bristol Downtown Development Corp. Ken Cockayne

MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS(No Confirming Votes Necessary)

Hoppers-Birge Pond Ken Cockayne
Pine Lake Kate Matthews
Affordable Housing Ken Cockayne
Mayor’s Talk Force on Energy Kevin Fuller

COUNCIL COMMITTEES(No Confirming Votes Necessary)

Council Matters Committee (Fence, Claims, Str.) Kevin Fuller, Ken Cockayne, Cliff Block,
Salary Committee Mayor Ward, Cliff Block, Kate Matthews
Real Estate Committee____ Kevin McCauley, Kevin Fuller, Ken Cockayne
Ordinance Committee Kevin McCauley, Cliff Block, Dave Mills
Building Committee Dave Mills, Cliff Block, Kevin McCauley
Veterans Committee Mayor Ward, Kevin McCauley
5 Year Capital Improvement Committee Dave Mills, Kevin McCauley, Kevin Fuller
Government Efficiency Study_________________
Bristol/Burlington Health District Kevin Fuller
School Readiness(part of Board of Ed) Cliff Block
Public Hearing & Assessment Committee Cliff Block, Kevin McCauley, Dave Mills
Code Enforcement______Kevin McCauley

COUNCIL MEMBERS ON BOARDS(VOTE NECESSARY)

Bristol Development Authority Ken Cockayne
Board of Fire Commissioners Cliff Block
Board of Police Commissioners Kevin Fuller
Board of Public Works Kevin McCauley, Dave Mills, Cliff Block
Retirement Board Kate Matthews
Transportation Committee Kate Matthews
Youth Commission Ken Cockayne
West Side School Committee_____Ken Cockayne
Forestville School Committee_____ Kate Matthews

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

Ward eyes committee assignments for new council

For the first time in many years, the mayor plans to name himself as chair of one of a City Council committee.

Mayor Art Ward said he’s eyeing the prospect of naming himself as the head of the Salary Committee. He said he may want to chair another panel as well.

Ward said he also intends to ax some committees.

Those on the chopping block include the Roberts Property Committee and the Theater Committee.

The mayor said both panels were created to push projects – a recreation complex on the former Roberts property and a community theater at Memorial Boulevard School – that can’t be funded anytime soon.

It’s not clear what other committees may be wiped out.

Ward, who won reelection Tuesday by a wide margin, said he will take a couple of weeks before handing out committee assignments to the council.

He said he wants to take enough time to ensure that all six councilors, including three newcomers, have a chance to take on assignments that interest them.

City Councilor Frank Nicastro said the three veteran councilors who won reelection this week “are going to have their hands full” dealing with “giant committees” such as the Real Estate and Ordinance panels.

“I don’t envy them,” Nicastro said.

Ward said that eliminating unnecessary committees will free up busy councilors to focus on more pressing issues and problems.

The mayor said that he can always reinstate the Roberts, Theater or other committees down the road if circumstances change.

In the meantime, Ward said, “it’s fruitless to spend the time and effort” to keep alive committees that can’t really do anything.

Ward’s decision to take the helm of the Salary panel, Nicastro said, “is a very wise move. That’s a very professional move.”

He said that Ward, who chaired the panel as a councilor years ago, can take on the job without missing a beat.

Nicastro said that two of the three council members who serve on the Salary panel – Mike Rimcoski and Nicastro – won’t be back after newcomers take their place Monday.

So for the mayor to bring his experience to the panel, Nicastro said, is “a wise thing.”

Nicastro said that once the newly elected councilors have some time in office, Ward may shuffle the assignments a little.

“Once these guys and ladies all get their feet wet, a year from now, if he wants he can name somebody chairman,” Nicastro said.

Nicastro served as mayor from 1993 to 2003. He has been on the council since 2005, but stepped down this year to focus on his job as state representative for the 79^th District.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com