Appointments Committee – a 36 Year Veteran Retires and a 3rd Generation Legacy Begins
The Gardner Appointments Committee met on October 14, 2026. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.
After 36 years in the role of the Sealer of Weights and Measures for the City of Gardner, Stephen Hirons has submitted his request for retirement effective November 1st. At an Appointments Committee meeting of October 14, 2026, Gardner Mayor Nicholson announced that he has given Hirons’ son a temporary 90 day appointment to the role. making him the 3rd generation in the job. This transition marks the arrival of a third-generation family legacy in the position, with Hodgson stepping into the exact footsteps previously walked by both his father and his grandfather.
What makes this passing of the torch even more extraordinary is Hodgson’s extensive, quiet preparation. As shared during the meeting, Hodgson spent a decade helping his father on the job entirely without pay. To ensure a seamless transition, Hirens plans to stay nearby to continue training his son and assist with the workload. As the mayor recounted during the meeting, relaying Hirens’ own words:
“Chris has been helping him out for free for 10 years. So Steve’s going to hang around for as long as he can to train him and make sure the work’s done there too.”
“You Know That’s My Dad, Right?”: A Moment of Unintentional Humor – A council member recounted an earlier attempt to get in touch with Mr. Hirons regarding an upcoming meeting. The member reached out to Chris Hodgson, asking if he could call Hirons and tell him he was needed. At the time, the council member had no idea the two men were father and son—despite having spent time meeting with Hirons just the day before. Because the two men carry different last names, the connection hadn’t clicked.
Hodgson simply replied, “You know that’s my dad, right?” To which the astonished colleague could only laugh, admitting they had just been with Hirens yesterday without connecting the dots.
The responsibilities of the Sealer of Weights and Measures is an important position with the following responsibilities: Inspecting and certifying commercial weighing and measuring devices, Maintaining accuracy for gas and oil dispensing equipment, scales, and retail devices, Enforcing Massachusetts General Laws regarding commercial integrity and consumer protection.