By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Select Board unanimously voted to appoint three women to two different committees during a Sept. 8 meeting.
Essex Village resident Susan Driscoll was appointed to the Lynnfield Initiatives for Elders, Inc. (L.I.F.E.) Board of Directors.
“I am here tonight with hopes to be appointed by the Select Board for the open position on L.I.F.E., Inc.’s Board of Directors,” said Driscoll. “I would like to become a more integral part of governance for L.I.F.E. residents.”
Driscoll said she and her husband, John, moved to Lynnfield in December 1973. She and her husband moved to Essex Village in June 2018.
“I have served on the Essex Village Board of Governors, entering my fourth year, with two of those years in the role of chairperson,” said Driscoll.
Driscoll said she is a retired registered nurse, has four children and eight grandchildren. She said all four of her children attended Lynnfield Public Schools through middle school. Driscoll said her daughter, Megan, graduated from Lynnfield High School in 1988. She said her sons, John and Kevin, graduated from St. John’s Prep as members of the Class of 1990 and Class of 1992 respectively. Driscoll said her daughter, Deirdre, graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School in 1994.
“Currently, I volunteer at Salem and Beverly Hospitals and Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers,” said Driscoll. “Please consider me for this very valuable position.”
Select Board Chair Phil Crawford thanked Driscoll for “stepping forward for the position.”
“We appreciate it,” said Crawford.
Select Board Vice Chair Alexis Leahy agreed.
“Thank you for stepping forward,” said Leahy. “I appreciate the experience you bring to this.”
Select Board member Dick Dalton said he moved to Essex Village this summer.
“I have seen you in action,” said Dalton. “You certainly have been a very important part of the Board of Governors there now for four years, and you are very well-respected by that community. I think you will be a great addition.”
Driscoll said the L.I.F.E. Board of Directors is “very strong.”
“We have been at Essex Village for seven years, and I have attended most meetings,” said Driscoll. “That was one of the things that encouraged me, after some experience, to go forward because I would like to do more. I would like to see more. As a nurse, you always go by proven practices that are evidenced-based. L.I.F.E. is a very, very valuable entity. We have to keep it going and keep it up with the times.”
Dalton said the four current L.I.F.E. Board of Directors members have “really done a great job.”
“There is certainly a lot that needs to be done, but you can certainly be a major contributor to that,” Dalton.
Crawford said he has attended Essex Village Board of Governors meetings in the past.
“I have been to a few of your meetings with you as chair,” said Crawford. “You do a fantastic job. I think you will be a great addition to this board.”
After the interview concluded, the Select Board unanimously voted to appoint Driscoll to the L.I.F.E. Board of Directors.
“Thank you so much,” said Driscoll.
Cultural Council appointments
The Select Board also voted to appoint two new members to the Lynnfield Cultural Council.
Oak Street resident Narin Paul has worked as a clinical pharmacist at NeighborHealth in East Boston since May. She previously worked as a pharmacy manager at Lowell Community Health Center Pharmacy from May 2024 to March 2025. Paul worked as a clinical pharmacist at Lowell Community Health Center from September 2021 to May 2024.
“I would like to be part of the Lynnfield Cultural Council because I believe deeply in celebrating diversity, fostering inclusion and creating opportunities for all voices to be represented in our town,” said Paul. “As a parent of two young girls, a 10th grader and a fourth grader, I want them to experience a town that embraces different cultures, perspectives and traditions while also feeling a strong sense of belonging. By serving on the council, I hope to help cultivate programs and initiatives that reflect the richness of our community, ensure that everyone feels seen and valued, and create a welcoming environment where families like mine and all residents can thrive.”
Crawford expressed his support for appointing Paul to the Cultural Council.
“I think based on what you have given us and what you have to say about why you want to be on the board, I think you will be a great fit,” said Crawford.
Douglas Road resident Beth Smith has worked as the director of Boston-based pathway programs at Northeastern University since November 2017. She lives in town with her husband and their 5-year-old son Benjamin, who is currently in kindergarten.
“I am very excited to join the Lynnfield Cultural Council,” said Smith. “My experience is in education, specifically in higher education. I work with international students, and I see various cultures represented at Northeastern University. I love watching my students embrace their friends’ different cultures, whether it’s through cooking events, dance events, talent shows and such. I really do believe that is an important part of our community as well. As Narin said, there is a lot of diversity in this community and with that comes culture. I was very impressed with my son’s teacher asking what celebrations each family has as part of their family traditions. It is so much fun to learn about those things, and to embrace the differences and the uniqueness of various cultures. For me, the opportunity to serve on this board is an opportunity to bring forth various cultures into town and celebrate them.”
Crawford said Smith would be “a nice fit” on the Cultural Council.
“My grandson is also a kindergartner,” said Crawford. “They will get to know each other.”
Leahy and Dalton thanked Paul and Smith for volunteering to serve on the Lynnfield Cultural Council.
After the interviews concluded, the Select Board unanimously voted to appoint Paul and Smith to the Cultural Council.
COA resignations accepted
The Select Board voted to accept Anita Migliore and Rod Boone’s resignations from the Council on Aging Board of Directors “with regret.”
“I would like to thank them for all of the work they did,” said Crawford. “They were fantastic. I have been to several of their meetings, and they work very hard for our seniors. They really did a lot of work with that group. I want to thank them very much.”