0:00The meeting’s primary focus was on the nomination of Felicia Jadik, who was proposed to fill the vacant Precinct 2 City Counselor position. Nathan Marquee, chair of the East Hampton Democratic City Committee, advocated for Jadik, lauding her community involvement and leadership in organizing the Porch Fest music festival. Marquee emphasized Jadik’s alignment with the Democratic Committee’s priorities on fostering a vibrant community and ensuring transparent governance. He cited her skills in listening and understanding diverse perspectives, which he believed would serve the council well.

During her introduction, Jadik reiterated her eagerness to serve and outlined her experience as a small business owner for over a decade. She expressed her dedication to being a voice for Precinct 2 and the larger community, recognizing both the challenges and opportunities ahead. When questioned about her outreach plans for the precinct, which is noted for its diversity, Jadik spoke of leveraging existing connections and establishing regular community meetings at local businesses. She proposed creating open office hours and utilizing social media to engage with constituents, acknowledging the need for varied forms of communication.

Jadik also highlighted her role in the Porch Fest festival, describing it as a grassroots event that enhances community connections by inviting residents into private spaces like porches and backyards. She stressed the festival’s impact on strengthening neighborhood relationships and providing a platform for local artists.

The council’s deliberations included discussions on Jadik’s potential contributions to the arts in Easthampton, drawing from her experience with the East Hampton City Arts Coordinating Committee. Jadik expressed a desire to integrate arts and cultural events into the broader community framework.

12:30Councilor Riley recognized Jadik’s dedication to the arts community, particularly her work on the Concert Series. Riley raised concerns about historical communication issues among elected officials. He questioned how Jadik would apply her professional experience to improve dialogue among government members. Jadik responded by acknowledging the challenges ahead, citing her experience in facilitating difficult conversations about identity and systemic inequities. She committed to representing historically marginalized communities within Precinct 2 and fostering dialogue.

Another council member noted that Jadik was the sole applicant for the position. They expressed confidence in her qualifications and past contributions, such as her involvement with Porch Fest, believing her skill set would enhance the council’s effectiveness.

25:31The council then unanimously voted to appoint Felicia Jadik as the Precinct 2 City Counselor. Following her nomination, Jadik was sworn in, taking the oath of office with a commitment to perform her duties impartially and according to the law.

The meeting also addressed the council’s upcoming reorganization, particularly the Vice President position. Three letters of interest were received, and a rank-choice voting process was planned for the next meeting. The absence of letters for the President position was noted, but a vote would still occur. A council member inquired if they could ask questions of Vice President applicants during the meeting or if discussions should take place outside the public forum.

Further discussion touched on the timing of the reorganization process, with concerns about overlapping schedules, especially due to a public hearing at 6:15 PM. A proposal was made to adjourn the meeting at 6:00 PM, prioritizing the reorganization on the agenda. The council agreed to pause the discussion if it encroached on the public hearing and resume afterward.