Holyoke Veterans Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion and Diversity Committee Meeting, 10/17/25

Meeting Minutes

A. Call to Order 10:05 a.m.

• Reminded members that the use of AI for note taking or recording at DCAMM meetings is prohibited except in limited cases as approved by the General Counsel.

Members in Attendance:

Members Present:

• Andrea Gayle Bennett
• Karen Courtney
• Bonnie Borch-Rote
• Dr. Aisha Miller
• Laddy Rua
• Liseth Velez (Micala Britto)
   

Members Absent:

• Marcony Almeida-Barros
• Colton Andrews
• Rubens Boursiquot (Undecided)
• Maxime Charles
• John Cruz
• Micheal Euvrard
• Colleen Fonseca
• Nicole Obi (Allysa Benaflew-Ramos BECMA)
• Debora Olson
• Michael Rybicki
• Mary-dith Tuitt

 Confirmed that all present can hear and participate.

B. Administrative Matters 

• Charles Kelsey thanked the participants for joining the virtual meeting. Topics for consideration, vote to approve September 2025 Meeting Minutes. Meeting minutes prepared by DCAMM team shared with committee members for review. No vote taken to approve meeting minutes due to lack of quorum.

C. Update from Commodore/Walsh

• Nathalie Assens provided updates, work in progress.
• Aerial photos of overall site were reviewed.
• Geofield scope, ADA walkway and new grass seeding reviewed.
• Masonry work ongoing, scaffolding in place.
• Timber curtainwall and retaining wall installed.
• Headwall installation ongoing.
• Painting, flooring and tile installation ongoing.
• Tel Data rooms installation ongoing.
   

Karellis Rivera reported updates from previous month. All contract values and payments to diverse

D. Outreach Update

• Commodore|Walsh hosted Smith Vocational School, plumbing division. Conducted site tour and discuss used aspects of the project. Held career fair at Dean Vocational Tech HS. Future tours held in October include Franklin County Tech; carpentry and electrical classes. Also, attended the AGCMA Supplier Diversity Summit at Wentworth Institute of Technology.
   
• DCAMM in collaboration with DSB and SDO will be hosting 2025 Designer Connection Event for Public Projects at Roxbury Community College.

E. Public Question/Comment Period

• No questions from the public. Adjournment:
• Request for motion to adjourn, moved at 10:25.
  Motion 1st Karen Courtney 2nd Bonnie Borche-Rote
• Reminder: Next meeting Friday, November 21st at 10AM (virtual)

For additional information, including video recordings, approved minutes, and presentations on the Holyoke Veterans’ Home Reconstruction Access, Inclusion & Diversity Committee webpage.