MONROE, CT — The Town Council approved six appointees to town boards and commissions at its meeting on Sept. 9, and all six attended the meeting and took their oaths from First Selectman Terry Rooney.
The appointees were:
- Mark O’Donnell, Republican, Board of Finance for a term ending November 24, 2025
- Avinash “Avi” Veeraraghav, Democrat, the Lake Zoar Authority for a term ending November 8, 2025
- Margaret Lee, Democrat, alternate on the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term ending August 22, 2025
- Marybeth McGuire, Republican, the Board of Health for a term ending April 27, 2027
- Rob Primerac, Republican, the Parks & Recreation Commission for a term ending October 25, 2025
- Sue DeGeroge, Republican, as an alternate on the Historic District Commission for a term ending July 1, 2027
“Mark is the police chief of the Redding Police Department and has been a full time officer in the department for 39 years,” Nicole Lupo, the Monroe Republican Town Committee’s correspondence secretary, wrote in a letter to Town Council Chairman Jonathan Formichella.
“Mark has resided in Monroe for 40 years and is a graduate of Masuk High School,” Lupo wrote. “Mark resides in Monroe with his wife and daughter and granddaughter.”
“As Police Chief, Mark is familiar with managing a municipal budget and being fiscally responsible,” she continued. “Mark has been a Capstone judge at Masuk and a mentor to high school and college students. Mark is looking forward to giving back to the town of Monroe.”
All nomination letters are submitted by the first selectman.
Veeraraghav has been a Monroe resident since 1996, graduating from Masuk in 2014. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut and his master’s degree in public health from the University of Bridgeport in 2021.
He currently works as the epidemiologist with the Milford Health Department.
Veeraraghav volunteers with the University of Bridgeport MPH program as the alumni coordinator for its Academic Affairs Committee and is also a member of the Hamden Symphony Orchestra, playing its second violin section every Thursday evening.
“Given his longstanding ties to Monroe, he is glad to finally have a chance to contribute towards and make a difference in the Town that has greatly shaped who he is today,” the letter says.
Lee moved to Northbrook in January of 2005.
Prior to her retirement in 2007, she served as a corporate benefits assistant, then manager, handling health insurance, 401K plans, traditional pension plans and health insurance benefits, giving seminars to and working one-on-one with salaried and hourly employees to help them understand and enroll in those benefits.
“Her love of nature and the outdoors inspired her to join the Northbrook Landscape Committee, serving there throughout her tenure on the Board,” her nomination letter said.
Lee was elected to the Board of Directors in 2008 and served as vice president in 2014, then as president from 2015 to 2022. In that capacity, she represented Northbrook before the Planning and Zoning Commission in two separate cases before the town.
“Margaret wishes to continue her history of volunteerism by working with the Town of Monroe to give back to the community she loves.”
McGuire is a director of corporate communication at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications.
She is a longtime resident of Monroe and lives here with her husband and three children. She is involved in charitable organizations, including LivFree and United Methodist Church of Monroe.
“Marybeth is looking forward to using her skills in translating complicated health topics into accessible language, engaging with the community to foster trust, promote health literacy, as well as helping to manage public health emergencies and disseminating critical health information promptly and efficiently,” her nomination letter reads.
McGuires appointment fills a vacancy following the resignation of Mike Herlihy.
DeGeorge works for the town of Monroe as the assistant town clerk. She graduated from Boston College with an education degree and has always enjoyed being an active member and volunteer of multiple organizations in Monroe.
She has lived in Monroe for 21 years with her husband and raised three children here. DeGeorge recently volunteered for the Stepney PTO, Parents Council, Masuk PTC, St. Jude Religious Education, Sprint for Monroe and is a former employee of Monroe Public Schools.
“Sue would like to focus on becoming more active in town-wide programs, is very interested in Monroe’s history, and being able to help preserve it through being part of this commission,” her nomination letter reads.
Primorac retired from GE as an executive with over 24 years of experience, primarily working in corporate accounting.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and has lived in Monroe for 20 years with his wife and three children.
He has been an active volunteer in the community as an advocate for breast cancer awareness, supporting performing arts both in the Monroe public school system and other districts, and engaged in the Parks and Recreation leadership for the Arts in the Park series since 2014.
“Robert is looking forward to bringing his passion and fiscal discipline to the Town and looking to bring ideas to the commission,” his nomination letter reads.
Primorac’s appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Andy Csire.
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
Congrats and thank you to those volunteers for our Towns open seats on the various Boards and Commissions. Volunteerism is the oil that keeps the gears of our Town moving
brgds
Sean O’Rourke
Thank you, Mr. O’Rourke – and I quite agree. It makes me glad to be able to contribute to the town that I’ve called home for so long. I’m happy to do my part, and I’m sure that the other appointees feel similarly.
The Monroe Housing Authority needs a chair and a secretary and treasure thiers 3 vacancies!!! We need someone with housing expertise. Fairway Acres director retired two years ago and had been micro managed by chair Jocelyn Hudson Brown and not one of the 24 goals have been done. She has nearly bankrupt us with her poor decisions and lack of experience in housing. The elderly need a caring board members. We have one new member Elizabeth appointed by the town council a few months back hopefully she can turn Fairway Acres around from the mess the chair is leaving it on October 31 2024!!! The tenants are relieved and glad to see her go. I hope Terry Roney finds more qualified board member soon!!!