GREENFIELD — After years of encouraging others to step into leadership roles and get involved in their community, Precinct 8 Councilor Lora Wondolowski decided to heed her own advice.

“When this opportunity came up, I said to myself, ‘Instead of continuing to push other people to take this jump, I should do this myself and … put my money where my mouth is,’” said Wondolowski. “It came at the right time. I wanted to be of service to my community.”

City Council appointed Wondolowski at its December meeting to serve as the Precinct 8 councilor, filling the vacancy left by Doug Mayo last fall. Mayo’s decision to resign was in part based on health-related issues, but also frustration with the past administration. Wondolowski will finish out Mayo’s term, which ends December 2025.

Wondolowski, who has been a Greenfield resident since 2003, serves as director of advancement and communications at the Peace Development Fund, a donor-funded foundation that funds social justice work locally and around the country.

She has also served as a board member with the Connecticut River Conservancy, the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Pride Zone and the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center.

Locally, she volunteers at Stone Soup Cafe, the pay-what-you-can cafe that serves weekly hot meals out of All Souls Church on Main Street.

Wondolowski, who has one child at Greenfield High School and another who graduated from there, said she started to get more attuned to City Council business when proposed cuts to the school budget entered the spotlight.

Included in then-Mayor Roxann Wedegartner’s budget was a $1.5 million cut to Superintendent Christine DeBarge’s proposed $23.15 million school budget for fiscal year 2024, reducing the School Department’s requested increase over the previous fiscal year’s numbers from 10.35% to 3%. Ultimately, City Council voted to add nearly $1.18 million back into the budget.

“At a time when we were seeing learning loss and big challenges to the schools coming out of the pandemic, it just seemed penny-wise, pound-foolish to be cutting our schools,” Wondolowski said. “I think, if we want to train the next generation of leaders who are going to be part of our community, we can’t be cutting our schools. That just really struck me.”

Wondolowski commended the district for working with her eldest daughter, who graduated early.

“I’m a product of public schools and went to a public university, so I really value what public schools can do in raising people up,” she said.

Looking to the future, Wondolowski said she is particularly interested in issues of sustainability — particularly in the wake of last July’s flooding — and finding ways the city can do more to combat climate change.

She’s also interested in looking into how to tackle the issue of housing and affordability, having heard from many constituents that it is a top concern of theirs.

“As a councilor, I’m also just interested in how we can continue to be more transparent in the work we do,” she said, advocating for better civic engagement and helping others to understand the role of each level of government.

Wondolowski said while there will be a learning curve with her new role, she’s excited to begin the work.

“I think there’s a really great group of new councilors coming in,” she said. “And working with a new mayor, I think there’s a window where we can do some great work for Greenfield. I’m looking forward to that, but also to hearing from my constituents … and hearing how we can do the work of the people.”

Precinct 7 vacancy

While the Precinct 8 vacancy on City Council has been filled, another vacancy remains. In December, Jasper Lapienski submitted his resignation, effective Jan. 1. He served for two years as the Precinct 7 representative.

Any registered voter residing in Precinct 7 who wishes to be considered for this position should email a letter of interest to citycouncil@greenfield-ma.gov by Monday, Jan. 29, at 4 p.m. Resumes are also appreciated.

City Council President John Bottomley anticipates the council to consider a recommendation for Precinct 7 in February so a new councilor can be appointed at the regular council meeting scheduled for Feb. 21. A two-thirds vote will be required.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter (X): @MaryEByrne.