[This story was updated Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. to include the name of an additional candidate.}
Eight residents have expressed their interest in filling the Park & Recreation Commission seat vacated by former Chair Chris Gerstel.
Gerstel resigned a few weeks after pleading not guilty in federal court on June 5 to 17 counts related to allegedly stealing more than $200,000 from Needham Baseball and Softball.
The appointment process is being handled jointly by the Park & Rec Commission’s Michelle Geddes and Vice Chair Josh Levy on behalf of the Select Board as a
two-person town sub-committee to manage the process.
At the Aug. 11 Select Board meeting Levy said he and Geddes would be moving the process forward during the Aug. 24 Park & Rec Commission meeting when they plan to interview candidates in open session.
Levy said the appointment will be voted on at a joint meeting of the Select Board and Park & Rec on Sept. 8, with the five Select Board members and four current Park & Rec Commission members all voting.
The process will select someone to serve out the balance of Gerstel’s three-year term, which expires in April. The chosen candidate will be free to run in next April’s town election but would not be designated as an incumbent.
Eight residents submitted “Committee Volunteer Interest” forms by the August 7 deadline:
Todd Alwart, Grasmere Road
Alwart is a chemical engineer who works in product management for Xylem, a water technology company whose clients include municipal park and recreation departments.
Jay Carter, Beaufort Avenue
Carter is an attorney and Town Meeting member from Precinct I. He is a board member of the Needham Baseball and Softball organization.
Steven Deroian, Lindbergh Avenue
Deroian works in financial services and has also served on the Needham Baseball and Softball board for the last 10 years with a focus on the girls softball program.
Stephanie Doherty, Colonial Road
Doherty works in finance for a biopharmaceutical company and is a former Rosemary Pool lifeguard.
Kendra Long, Pine Grove Street
Long is a digital archivist and audiovisual preservation specialist. She is a Needham native who returned to town in 2025.
Daniel McDavitt, Hillside Avenue
McDavitt is a retired safety professional who also coached for 10 years for the Needham Soccer Club.
Karen Peirce, Thorpe Road
Peirce is a former assistant director of Park & Rec who served under Patty Carey. She also worked for Newton’s parks department.
Ethan Talbert, Lawrence Road
Talbert works in strategic communications at Shark Ninja and is the father of three girls who participate in Park & Rec activities.
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