Two New Appointments to Historical Commission

The Town Council unanimously approved, as part of the June 3 consent agenda, Town Manager Paul Bockelman’s appointments of Camila Hwang-Carlos and Kalyani Subramanyam to the Historical Commission. The two had been unanimously recommended by the Town Services and Outreach Committee (TSO) at its May 21 meeting.

Hwang-Carlos was appointed to a one-year term ending June 30, 2027. According to Bockelman’s report to the council, she studied history as an undergraduate and is in the process of fulfilling a Masters of Library and Information Sciences with a concentration in archives. She recently worked on an independent research project on the history of South East Street. She also serves on the Board of the Resilience Center of Franklin County in Greenfield.

Subramanyam is a psychiatrist who practices in Holyoke. Bockelman’s report states, “Dr. Subramanyam draws a connection between the mental health of individuals in a community with the feelings of a sense of place and ties to history. She has extensive experience working with non-profit organizations. She has educated herself about the West Cemetery in the downtown and the important people who are buried there. She believes it is her responsibility as a resident to step up and volunteer her time to help better the town.” Her three-year term will end on June 30, 2029.

Candidates were interviewed by Bockelman, Planner Walker Powell, and Residents’ Advisory Committee member Anastasia Ordonez. Hwang-Carlos and Subramanyam were the unanimous choices of the interviewers.

The charge of the Historical Commission, revised on December 30, 2019, states, “The Commission is responsible for identifying the Town’s historic assets through inventories and for developing programs of preservation. It initiates recommendations for listing specific sites and areas on the National Register of Historic Places. The Commission also acts as an advocate for the protection of historic and architecturally significant properties and has responsibilities under the Town’s Zoning Bylaw that regulates the demolition of buildings.”

In addition to the new appointments to the Historical Commission, the council approved reappointments to 16 other committees. These are:

            Bob Pomeroy, Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

            Risha Hess, Board of Health

            Nathaniel Larson, CDBG Advisory Committee

            Serin Derin and Cody Rooney, Commission for Persons with Disabilities

            Bob Saul, Community Preservation Act Committee

            Jason Dorney and Bruce Stedman, Conservation Committee

            Tricia Montgomery and Don Ripley, Council on Aging

            Lori Goldner, Energy and Climate Action Committee

            Silas McClung, Human Rights Commission

            Bruce Coldham and Greta Wilcox, Local Historic District Commission

            Brianna Sunryd and Rebecca Woodland, Personnel Board

            Lynne Thompson, Public Art Commission

            Chris Pariseau, Recreation Commission

            Jaime Wagner, Registrar of Voters

            Meg Gage and Jim Pistrang, Residents’ Advisory Committee

            Christian Guzman and Jack Jemsek, Water Supply Protection Committee

In the May 21 TSO meeting, the reappointments were approved by a vote of 3-0-1. Pam Rooney abstained, and Jennifer Taub was absent. George Ryan, Hala Lord, and Andy Churchill voted in favor.