The Special Act Charter Drafting Committee will consist of 2 members appointed by the City Council President and 3 members appointed by the Mayor. Any changes recommended by that Committee must be approved by the City Council and the Mayor, the State of MA, and then in order to go into effect by the voters at the ballot box.
Gardner MA City Council Opts to Preserve Single Tax Rate at Meeting of December 5, 2022 – Approves Charter Committee 7-4
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The Gardner MA City Council started its evening with an informal session and public hearing on whether a single tax rate for all properties would continue. That meeting, begun at 7pm, lasted 13 minutes with testimony only from the Mayor and the Tax Assessor. Agenda CLICK HERE. Listen on any device. CLICK Play.
The regular meeting of the City Council was held at 7:30pm. Agenda and Packet, CLICK HERE.
Expenditures
Appropriations from Free Cash: Traffic Lights Repairs – $57,485 – APPROVED , $156,180 for the City portion of the Greenwood Pavilion Project – APPROVED , $6,000 to the City Assessor Department to continue cloud services which had been FREE during a 5 year revaluation period and has been proven to be quicker in the cloud – APPROVED, $10,000 to City Clerk temporary staffing – REFERRED TO COMMITTEE . Other orders; $107.96 for Airport unpaid Verizon bills from last year – REFERRED TO COMMITTEE . The total bill had grown to $242.91 without services being turned off. Monthly bill is $26.99. , a transfer order of $36,500 from Veterans Department to bring an Assistant’s position to full-time and covering associated expenses for the remainder of the Fiscal year. REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
Ordinances
Personnel Compensation Schedule – , Amendment to Hawkers and Peddlers so that City-sponsored events are exempt – , Amendment to One way Street – , REFERRED TO COMMITTEES
State of the City Address – will be scheduled.
The City Charter
The Council heard reports of committees and took up the matter of the creation of a Special Act Charter Drafting Committee which action has been postponed several times since September. Amended to include 2 members to be appointed by the City Council President and 3 members appointed by the Mayor. There was opposition by Councilors Hardern , Walsh, Craig Cormier and Ronald Cormier. Passed 7 to 4.
Single Tax Rate
Approved unanimously by the City Council.
New Business included; Dana Heath encouraged donations throughout the Holiday season. Nathan Boudreau hopes everyone stays safe out there.
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