City decides to wait on trash fees

Council sends ordinance back to Finance Committee pending public forum on the issue

By Owen Boss

GARDNER — The City Council unanimously denied the motion to send the proposed trash ordinance to first printing at the council meeting Monday, and rather decided to refer it back to the Finance Committee for further review, because they said they felt it would be in the city’s best interest to wait until after a public forum on the issue before a first printing. Mayor Mark Hawke said that he did not agree with the council’s decision to send the ordinance back to the committee, because it has to be approved before the end of the fiscal year June 30, and now time is going to be a factor. “This has to pass before the end of the fiscal year,” said Mr. Hawke. “So there is only two more council meetings, June 2nd and the 16th. That doesn’t leave us a lot of time to pass this ordinance.” Although the committee was in favor of passing the ordinance to first printing, committee member Kim Dembrosky said that she was reluctant to approve the ordinance for first printing. City Councilor David Boudreau said that he was in favor of sending the ordinance back to the committee, because he did not feel he had adequate time to review all of the information on the issue. “I found out shortly before this meeting of all of the information about where the shortfall is and how the revenue will be made for next year,” said Mr. Boudreau. “I feel that with items like this that the council must share more information, and because I had more questions, I am not going to be in favor of sending this to first printing.” Also opposed to sending the ordinance to first printing was City Councilor Joshua Cormier, who said that he would like to make sure he had time to analyze all of the facts, and also thought it was important to provide the residents of Gardner an opportunity to speak on the issue first. “I think its important to get more information on the issue,” said Mr. Cormier. “I also think that it is even more important to hold a forum that will let the community know and allow them to have their voices heard.” Although there is not yet a definitive date set for the forum, Mr. Hawke said it will be scheduled to be held sometime before the end of this week. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 5/20/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 120)