Review of City Charter Begins in Gardner MA
Get out the popcorn! Nothing gets more exciting than the nitty gritty of the language of the City Charter and the first public hearing was held on Wednesday February 23, 2023. Listen on any device. Click Play.
Note: In the article which follows, we give you an approximate time to forward to in the AUDIO if you’d like to listen to a specific speaker.
00:00 – 30:00 – Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson and Council President Kazinskas spoke on their joint suggestions and they are here in writing on pdf. CLICK HERE.
Elected Officials went first. Others were supposed to be allotted up to 3 minutes. However, the Committee allowed Scott Graves to speak as long as he desired and he took about 10 minutes.
31:10 – Councilor James Walsh stated that no many changes are needed. He was originally concerned about mischief, but given the makeup of the Committee, doesn’t have daily concerns.
37:10 – Councilor Judy Mack suggested there be a penalty for both City Councilors and School Committee members who miss meetings and suggested the Council President should be elected annually.
40:49 – Councilor Jim Boone spent a few minutes complaining that he wondered where citizens would get information on the Charter. (We say right here on Gardner Magazine, see previous article which gives you almost every suggestion ever made, CLICK HERE.) He suggested the Mayoral term be 4 years.
45:09 – Citizen Martin Gray rose to complain that the Gardner News doesn’t report local news
47:02 – Director of Purchasing Joshua Cormier spoke on the problem of contracts $1000 and up having to be signed.
49:30 – Attorney and Former City Councilor Scott Graves spoke for 10 minutes stating that none of the Mayor’s recommendations are necessary because state law controls. “It’s an obsession with nitpicking…Have suspicions what’s going on…I don’t think the Charter should be messed with.”
After the meeting adjourned, the cameras kept rolling and dates for the next meeting were discussed. The last thing that was said was May 4th. We will inform you of the next meeting date when officially announced. Gardner residents wishing to submit comments or suggestions for the Charter should email them to CSmith@Gardner-MA.gov.