MARBLEHEAD — The Select Board unanimously appointed two residents to the Finance Committee and Cultural Council, respectively, at their board meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Before being appointed by the Board, Ramon Garcia spoke about his desire to serve on the Committee to help make financial decisions “that align with what’s best for Marblehaders.”
He will replace Terra Samuels on the Committee and also serves on the Housing Committee as an alternative member.
Gracia said he is prepared to make difficult financial decisions, given the town’s financial constraints.
“I believe, essentially, the key to having difficult conversations is understanding the why and the reason behind it,” Gacia said.
He added, “It’s about finding the fine balance between providing the information to the person and actually separating feelings and just sticking to the facts and remaining polite and reminding [people] that in the end, it might seem like we all are fighting or debating to find the best solution, but we’re in this together, and it’s one town in.”
Previously, Garcia served as a senior accountant for the Lynn Community Health Center and is working to become a certified public accountant. He is a graduate of Salem State University.
He said while at the Lynn Community Health Center, he “got in touch with my sense of duty, because we were actually dealing with the public itself. So it kind of gave me my moral compass.”
He added his work at Lynn Community Health inspired him to serve the public by using his knowledge of finance.
Garcia said he does not have a formal understanding of the town’s budgetary procedures, but has a relationship with the Finance Department and has previously interviewed for the town’s assistant town accountant position.
Also at the meeting, Longtime Resident Susan Wood was appointed to the Cultural Council.
Woods is a local artist and an active member of the Marblehead Arts Association, and has volunteered and participated in the annual Arts Festival.
She said while on the Council, she would be “fully supportive of spending grant money on science-related activities, especially if students are involved.”
Woods added she hoped to join the Council to volunteer and get more involved in the community.
Both Garcia and Woods will be sworn in by the Town Clerk at a later date.
