By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – Town Moderator Chris Mehne recently made several appointments to the Shrewsbury’s Finance Committee Personnel Board and the Lake Quinsigamond Commission. The town moderator is responsible for making these appointments which include new as well as re-appointments.
Vikram Chhabra, senior software engineer with Intel Corporation, was appointed to the Finance Committee (FinCom) for a three-year term, replacing Gene Buddenhagen who had served since 1999.
“Gene served on the FinCom with distinction, including several years as chair, and I am very grateful for his service,” Mehne explained in an email. “Gene Buddenhagen was appointed by Kevin Byrne in 1999 and reappointed by me for three additional terms.”
“My policy on FinCom appointments, which I announced when I was first elected in 2009, is that new appointees are limited to three terms (nine years), and members who were appointed by my predecessor, Kevin Byrne, can be re-appointed for no more than three additional terms or nine years,” Mehne further explained.
Chhabra has resided in Shrewsbury for over 20 years and has been a Town Meeting member representing precinct 7 since 2018. He joins fellow FinCom members Mark B. Adler, John Cygielnik, State Representative Hannah E. Kane, L. Patrick Pitney, Judy M. Vedder, Jordan J. Rubin, Mark T. Murray and Erin B. Howard.
Vedder, a Town Meeting member from precinct 9 and Adler, former Town Meeting member from precinct 1, have been re-appointed for three-year terms. Vedder and Adler are beginning their third and second terms, respectively.
Anthony A. Froio has been re-appointed for another three-year term on the Personnel Board and Kenneth F. Polito, Town Meeting member from precinct 3, has been re-appointed to the Lake Quinsigamond Commission for another three year term. Froio and Polito have served on their respective boards for many years.
Mehne’s policy on term limits does not extend to the Personnel Board or the Lake Quinsigamond Commission.
These appointments and re-appointments became effective July 1.
