BRANDON — As a Brandon lister and member of the Otter Valley Union High School Board, Maria Ammatuna already had her hands full. Now, she can add selectboard member to her resume.
The Brandon selectboard chose Ammatuna to fill the vacant board seat left when Richard Baker agreed to become interim town manager late last month. The appointment to the three-year seat expires on Town Meeting Day in March 2014.
“I look forward to joining the team,” Ammatuna said on Monday after the board announced its decision. “I have a true love and appreciation for our town. I also realize and respect the large job of the selectboard to ensure good and beneficial programs and services for the greater and total population of Brandon.”
Ammatuna was one of six Brandon residents who wanted to be considered for the post and sent a letter of interest to the board. The other candidates vying for the board seat included Brian Fillioe, June Kelly, Jim Leary, Alan Leavitt and Buzz Racine.
Brandon selectboard chair Devon Fuller said he felt that Ammatuna was the right person for the job.
“We feel that Maria will be a very good addition to the board and will be helpful in moving Brandon forward,” he said.
Ammatuna owns Creative Fiber Designs, and creates hats, scarfs and other woven products. Before starting Creative Fiber, she spent more than 20 years in corporate finance and planning, including nine years as a financing services manager with Hewlett-Packard Co. She has a bachelor’s degree in management and a master’s degree in public administration. She also sits on the board of the Compass Music and Arts Center. She has two children and four grandchildren.
Ammatuna will vacate her seat as lister. She joins the selectboard at a crucial time and her finance experience will come in handy. The board’s immediate task is cutting the town budget, which was defeated on a re-vote last month.