The Zoning & Planning Committee unanimously approved two mayoral appointments and will forward both nominations to the full City Council for final confirmation.

Michael Adefren (as he introduced himself) was nominated to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust. Adefren described a decade-long career in affordable housing, including acquisitions work at Beacon Communities, executive-director responsibilities at the Brookline Housing Authority and more recently founding a private company, TerraLiving Partners, that acquires market-rate properties and converts or preserves them as deed-restricted affordable units. Adefren said he hopes to use his acquisition and financing experience to help the trust evaluate deals and leverage state and federal funding. He described one housing model used in Brookline — families purchasing condominiums with deed restrictions, supported by vouchers and nonprofit operations — as an option Newton could explore for households with adult children with disabilities.

Committee members discussed the city’s role in acquiring existing “naturally occurring affordable housing,” creating template transaction approaches to speed deals, and the affordable housing trust’s ability to act more quickly than the Community Preservation Act (CPA) process when appropriate. Councilors praised Adefren’s experience and the nomination passed 8–0.

The committee then took up the nomination of J.J. (pronounced “J.J.”) Casper Bagan to the (transcript) “Virgo” Advisory Commission. Bagan summarized a long‑standing personal commitment to sustainability and energy-efficiency work at home and in professional roles supporting corporate investment in climate-related opportunities. He said he brings data and technology skills and experience with energy-efficiency programs (including Mass Save) and expressed interest in using those skills to help the commission evaluate building-level retrofits, technology solutions and lessons learned across projects. Committee members welcomed Bagan’s perspective and technical skills; the nomination passed 8–0 and will go to the full council.

Votes at a glance
- Appointment of Michael Adefren to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust — motion approved 8–0; forward to full City Council.
- Appointment of J.J. Casper Bagan to the (transcript) “Virgo” Advisory Commission — motion approved 8–0; forward to full City Council.

Ending: Both appointees were told they are welcome to attend the full council meeting when the nominations are considered; committee members suggested both would be assets to their respective commissions.