GREENFIELD — A new face joined City Council on Wednesday, filling the seat vacated by former Precinct 1 Councilor Ed Jarvis.
Resident Katherine Golub received a unanimous vote of support from councilors Wednesday night to represent Precinct 1. She will serve until the next city election in November 2023. Her appointment follows Jarvis’ decision in April to resign from the role, effective May 31.
“When (City Council President Sheila Gilmour) first reached out to me know about the opening, I said no,” Golub shared with councilors. “I see how much each of you put into your roles, and sometimes the little respect you receive for the work you’re doing.”
But after reaching out to a few other individuals she thought would make good a fit for the role, Golub began to reflect on what Gilmour was asking of her.
“One of my strongest-held values is responsibility and obligation to my community,” Golub said. “I believe there are sometimes things we should do even if it’s really uncomfortable.”
With that in mind, she decided that while the role of city councilor would require a degree of sacrifice, it was her responsibility to represent her neighbors and to “work toward the Greenfield” she knows is possible.
At-Large Councilor Penny Ricketts thanked both Golub and resident David Lanoie for submitting letters of interest.
“I’m glad that with everything going on, people are still interested,” she said. “I think it’s a big deal to sit here and serve this community, so thank you.”
Golub, a leadership and business coach who works with civic and nonprofit leaders, said she would aim to “work hard for a future in which all Greenfielders feel a deep sense of safety, belonging and dignity.”
“I imagine a Greenfield in which every single person in this room, every single person in this town … everyone has these needs for safety, belonging and dignity met,” she said.
The vote to appoint Golub to City Council was unanimous among councilors present at the John Zon Community Center. Precinct 2 Councilor Dan Guin was absent, and due to technical difficulties with the hybrid model of meeting, Precinct 4 Councilor John Bottomley was unable to vote.
An earlier version of this article mistated that Precinct 8 Councilor Doug Mayo was absent. Mayo attended the first part of the meeting in-person before switching to hybrid.
Reporter Mary Byrne c an be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne