--------- Good evening. Welcome to this informal meeting of the Gardener City Council on Monday, June 2nd, 2025 for the purpose of conducting a review and discussion of the fiscal year 2026 budget as proposed by Mayor Nicholson. I will now call on the clerk to please call the role.
Council Brooks, present. Councilor Permier, present. Council General Lawitz, present. Council Hard present. Council Heath present. Council Hegland present. Council Kazinsquez present. Council Mack present. Council Tony present. Council Tbo
Mos and President Tyrus present. For the public watching this evening, I'd like to briefly outline the city's budget process up to this point. Mayor Nixon submitted the FY2026 budget recommendations to the city council on Wednesday, May 14th. That same day, the
proposed budget was also made available to the public on the city's website. Since then, the city council standing committees, finance, public safety, public service, public welfare, and the economic and community development committees have held their own budget hearings. These committees convened with
their department heads under their jurisdiction along with Mayor Nichlson for a more detailed study of the budget and to seek answers to their specific questions. For the public's reference, recordings of those standing committee meetings are available on the city gardener's YouTube channel. Now, regarding the city
council's authority in this process, the city council has the power to reduce line items from the proposed budget. The primary exception to this is a school department budget. For that, the school city council can only reduce the overall bottom line amount, not specific line
items within their proposed budget. For all other city departments, we have the authority to make cuts on specific line items proposed. Tonight, I'd like to begin with item 11539, an ordinance to amend the city of Gardner chapter 8, thereof titled personnel to replace attachment one,
schedule E, thereof titled non-UN compensation schedule. This is the biggest change in city budget. So I think it makes sense to address this first and also like to start by addressing some of the things I heard concerning this part of the budget
in the subcommittee hearings. It was said that this council raised concerns about a new position in the community development department not being proposed with a competitive enough salary and that the department head stated that quote it was disheartening to see the newly created role receive
significant discussion and prioritization around salary competitiveness while current department heads do not receive similar consideration. finishing the statement with it being difficult to ignore the contrast when this new position which is not a director or assistant director would be
making more than them they themselves would and then respectfully ask that we as a city consider the importance of investing in and retaining proven contributors that have demonstrated their commitment to the city's success. Now that's a lot to unpack. However, it's something that I heard come up in
nearly every department budget hearing. And I want to quote myself from our April 7th council meeting which was nearly a month before we received this budget and that particular ordinance proposal. Quote, I intend to lead this council through a fair and public debate
considering the broader issue of non-UN salaries that must be addressed when a complete proposal is put forward. Now that a proposal has been put forward, we can begin our work. However, all we have in front of us is a brief letter in a spreadsheet.
We absolutely need more information and we certainly need more time. We were given the salary ordinance just 19 days ago, an ordinance that just this year has a budget impact of nearly $350,000. And because it introduces a step raise system based on our current
roster, its impact might be another $178,200 or $527,246 total next year. Year three could cost another 2002 200,216 or
77027,463. So by fiscal 2028 we could be spending up to 3/4 of a million dollars more on salaries than today for just about 60 of our city employees. I say all this not in opposition of a stepbased salary system for non-union personnel or in opposition to addressing
the issue of the sustainability of non-un salaries. I am however opposed to implementing a significant probably the most significant salary increase per employee in the city's history with limited data limited time and a limited
understanding of future impacts in the middle of reviewing an over $90 million budget. Now, I might feel diff different about this if during the budget hearings I didn't think hear things like that we're not budgeting for a replacement coffee machine for the clerk's office, that
bathrooms were out of order and trash wasn't cleaned up in city hall due to labor shortages, that employees were wearing winter gloves and hats while working in their offices because we couldn't fix the heat in city hall for six weeks. How we were reminded that the school department has paid a higher percentage
of the recreation department's director's salary year-over-year and the city's contribution amount has not changed. Or the fact that we were just asked to make an emergency loan from stabilization last spring to build a new salt shed before winter and yet now
we're entering the summer of the following year and I don't think we've even taken the new structure out of the box it was delivered in. We clearly need to balance a lot of competing constraints and address a lot of issues, including those of our taxpayers. And I don't think we can
reasonably accomplish that before we hit the budget deadline this month. For these reasons, I recommend we take a sequential approach. First, we complete our work with the fiscal year budget. And then with that foundation in place, we can give the steps scale pay
ordinance the thorough, focused, and financially responsible consideration it truly requires. To all the city department heads, please understand this is about diligence and not delay. I've heard the scuttlebutt in city hall that this council is merely pushing off the
discussion of employee compensation as some have said has happened in past councils and won't actually address the issue. This council and I as president as I've said are committed to addressing the employee compensation problem and
the potential implication of a new step system. Our commitment is precisely why I insist on doing this the right way. Not doing this well very likely could have serious consequences for our state. And doing this well requires careful consideration by leveled
heads. And I'd like you you all to ask of you instead of being disheartened by our thoroughess, be confident in our ability to consider the importance of investing in and retaining proven contributors that have demonstrated their commitment to the success of the city. I'll now open the floor for what
my fellow counselor's thoughts are on this topic. Councelor Heg. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for those words. Uh, you nailed a lot of the points I think I'm going to make, but we do have a great deal to consider when weighing
this proposal and what I think are really the two sides of affordability at the center of those considerations. How much we can afford to do and what the costs of doing nothing are um or not enough. So when considering salary increases, there's several factors at play. On the one hand's the reality that
salaries among the department heads vary widely and raises haven't always been given out consistently. On the other hand is the salary study which shows us where these department head positions are recommended to be. It's my understanding that department heads used the salary study um and explored how
other municipalities approach compensation for these positions. In addition, and on that point, I do think it's also important that we ensure these comparisons are fair and equitable. It's insufficient really to pick a community simply based on a similar population size, revenue, budget
size, median household income, other socioeconomic factors, I really do believe have to be considered. So to compare say Gardener and Westboro, while both are roughly 20,000 people, they're really comparing apples and oranges. I think the median household income in Westboro when I looked, was around
$140,000. Here in Gardner, it's $50,000. We're really different communities economically and budgetarily. So that again is where I think that salary study comes in handy. It was a neutral evaluation of the jobs and duties, ensuring that the salaries are within reasonable limits,
compensating people for the tasks they're required to do. But on the other hand are of course the benefits that do come with being a public employee and a city of garden employee. We have a great split in the health insurance. Uh the pension for many the proximity to home
in an affordable area, time off, all of that's to be weighed. And it's clear to me upon my initial review of the budget that our current budget proposal from the mayor certainly under budgets in some areas as we saw in some of our meetings and doesn't budget for certain things at
all. So balancing salaries and services is also something we have to consider as a council and be mindful of. Furthermore, the impact of these salary increases, if the proposed step system is adopted, as you said, Mr. President, won't just impact this budget, but budgets to come. So, we're really
setting the stage for the future of the city as well. And we don't know how hard times might be. Now, that doesn't mean, and I and I agree with this, that we don't want to show appreciation for the city's employees, especially those who have been with us a long time. That longevity, that experience, that dedication count for something uh and
then are worthy of being valued. So the question becomes how do we balance valuing those jobs and our budget constraints? In other words, how much can we afford to do and what are the costs of doing nothing or not enough? I think the council back in 22 um before
certainly my time and some others made a wise decision in stopping the practice of taking up individual salary increases. At that time they also stipulated that increases needed thorough explanation and justification. So I don't think we should look at this any differently. I also want to be careful that we don't
scrutinize because we're getting these all at once instead of one at a time. There's one raise in here um that's around $30,000, right? It or any of them shouldn't get breezed over just because it's part of a large package. So, to that end, I do agree. I don't think we can evaluate that all in just a few
short weeks before the budget season concludes. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Hegel. Further discussion? Councelor Mack. Thank you, Council President. Um the proposed um budget includes salary increases that semi-seriously question. We received
this budget from the mayor which was a result of um which asks the question are these increases going to um interfere with the daily operations of the city? Uh I think they may um and I haven't been convinced
otherwise. The council did vote for a salary study which was in my opinion poorly conducted. I'm not even sure every counselor has received a copy of the salary study. I received a copy on Friday. Um, and in my opinion, I I don't believe it's overall useful, but I'm
trying to still plow through it to see how it can be um considered seeing we paid so much money for it. There was a salary study group, as you mentioned, made of several department heads, but the results weren't presented to the finance committee or to the city council by the mayor. This process I believe should have been done more in a more
collaborative manner to avoid what could be any contentious situation with the department heads. This is not an us versus them situation. It's what's best for the city and what the city can afford. The mayor has now in the FY26 budget created a formula to intimate rate implement raises for non-union
department heads uh with a step system. Um I believe we do need a step system but I don't again agree with some of the increases proposed. They are not equitable and leaves some department heads, in my opinion, still very underpaid and others are getting an unaffordable
increase. Uh the mayor says in his letter to the council he believes they could be implemented with minimal impact on the city. Again, if you watch the budget meetings and you look at the line item budgets, I'm not comfortable with this. It's a lot of information. As you said, we've only had a little over two
weeks and to um digest it. The pressure is now on us to make the the best decision for the city and decide if these raises are worth putting any of the city's uh finances in jeopardy. I believe that at this point that we need to take a step-by-step
process. the I would like to see a salary scale with the same percentage increase across the board for all non-UN positions and the longevity taken out of the wage increase and put on a separate line item for each uh employee with a step increase for every five years of
service for the city similar to other city professional contracts such as the teachers union. That would be a great um incentive for people to stay within the city. Do I support raises? Yes, I do. And I want to make that very clear and I have made it clear in the past. But at
this fiscal uncert during this fiscal uncertainty, I'm not sure I can fully support what's been proposed, but I'm really willing to look at a more reasonable salary scale and other options. I would like to see see departments move away from their dependability on free cash for such
things as new vehicles and other such expenses. They need to and should be asked to put everything in their department budget. Free cash needs needs are undisputably used to supplement snow and ice, but they shouldn't be dependent
to replace budgetary items. As councelor Heglin mentioned in the finance committee meeting, PD and other association dues should all be itemized instead of just in one lump category. I believe that free cash needs to be used more to replenish the city's
reserves and to build the stabilization accounts of this city. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Mack. Further discussion, Mr. President, councelor Kazinskus. Um, first I just want to address that I had made a statement at the previous
meeting uh regarding the July 2022 discussion about the salary study. And I just, you know, I just want to reiterate again just so that the information is correct because that was the that was a big point of the statement that I had made that um while at that meeting some counselors had voiced uh support for a
salary study, um the mayor also had uh voiced support for that salary study. And it's not the same as the council making a request or taking a vote for it. it was simply um support for documentation for us to consider um
when we talk about salaries. So I just want to make that again just want to reiterate that point again. Um at this point I think that we should request more information and we should table this discussion for now on this item. It is the responsibility of the city council to make informed decisions in
the best interest of the city. Um and we can only make informed decisions if we have all of the information. I don't believe that we have all the information that we need right now to thoroughly and fully consider this item. And specifically, I would like to see
the entire salary study, information on the salary working group and information on what they did in that working group. It doesn't make sense to start over from scratch. So, I think it is important that the city council take the time to fully evaluate the proposal that the
working group and the mayor put together. And then we can really only do that if we can see their process and not only the final numbers that we have. Um so I'm going to propose that the city council request the following. The
salary study itself and then from the salary working group a list of the members of the group how their work was conducted. an explanation of how they reached the figures that we have these numbers and cost projections of the new proposed compensation schedule for
three, five, 10 years out from now. So we can we can consider that as well. So Mr. President, I move that through you we request for those items for a future meeting to discuss item 11539.
Second. Motion made by councelor Kazinska, second by councelor Heath. Is there discussion on the motion? Brooks. Uh, thank you, Mr. President. I get I'm coming at this from a n number of different angles. I'm a
city councelor, so I'm looking at the budgetary impacts of it. Um, I used to be the city auditor here at Gardner. And anyone who knows my tenure knew that if somebody came in and asked for something, the first answer
was no. And when they asked the second time, the answer was no because things were tight and things are still tight within the budget. However, having been the department head, I also understand uh what it is to
work in the city and to have serious constraints on salary and and what I as a department head was earning and what what maneuver what room there wiggle room there was within that. And I was here when when they did the
last uh across the board adjustments for department head salaries. Uh Mayor Sandler was the one that spearheaded it. So it's got to be 20 years ago that that this happened. And I think what happens with department heads is that that we don't there isn't enough movement so
that uh we can make market adjustments to the salaries as time passes. is if you have a department head who was in the position for 10 or 15 years, they're getting the 2% or 3% a year, but they're not getting the adjustments for the market. And I look at this as being part
of that, an adjustment for the market. Where has the market gone? So, I don't I have u talked with the mayor. Um I understand that this uh
proposal is within the confines of what this salary survey said and that department heads are generally satisfied with it. So in that sense there's a negotiation going on. I think on the council how many contracts
have we accepted from the mayor without debate and pass the the money union contracts and just put it through without any discussion. Part of that is because the mayor's negotiated it and that's what it is. And so I look at this
as being something similar where the the mayor is is has has worked this through. there seems to be uh agreement among the the various parties as to where the numbers should be and I think we have to be careful
about uh opening up for further negotiations because that is sometimes when things unravel that well you want to take care of this person and then that person get person number two gets upset so you make an
adjustment with number two and now number three is upset and before you know it you're you're talking to every every person. I'm not saying that we shouldn't take some time to make sure we know what we're doing and getting into. I do think we have to be careful about how deeply
we get into it because this can unravel very quickly leaving us back to where we're doing a 2% for next year or 3% what or four whatever the whatever the increase is. And that to me sends a signal to department heads that says, you know,
thank you for your service, but we're not going to do anything. I had a city council years ago that when we were going through this budget change said to me, "Well, Calvin, you're you're certainly worth 10,000 more than what we're paying you." I said, "Well, thank you." And he said, "But I can't give it
to you because if I give you 10, I have to give everybody else 10." And I said, 'Well, is everyone else worth 10 more? Well, no, but I have to be fair. And I'm thinking, well, okay. So, essentially, you're saying I'm worth 10 more, but you're going to take the bargain. And, you know, as a department
head, it's kind of like, okay, I I get it, but at the same time, why am I working? And so, I think just as a council, we have to be cognizant of that and and uh be careful as we move forward with it. Thank you. Thank you, Council Brooks. I just have a correction to make
from your statement. Uh it wasn't all that long ago that former counselor Walsh had actually reduced the budget for the firefighter union's uh salary negotiation because the mayor had put in an advanced uh negotiated number I could call it into our budget as we went
through our budget review cycle and he amended to remove that because of the council's role in approving the contract as negotiated. So we we do have a role in this, right? Very much so. Right. There is there is a role with the contracts in that the contract doesn't go into effect until the city council
funds the contract. Correct. We have to fund the contract. But you you issu you point out one where where there was a change. My experience has always been that the council just ratifies the contract, appropriates the funds, and does it.
And I'm going to say most of that's fine most of the time. I think we have to be careful in this case because these are the department heads. Um, and and the department heads are our management. They're the people that are supposed to be doing what we and the mayor are asking them to do. And they're
supposed to be if if I can express it this way. They're the ones facing the other employees or facing the public in terms of uh getting things done. And we just have to be careful with that. And and I will just
be extremely clear to the public that may be wa watching. Our role is to not uh kind of lengthly ratify any contract that comes before us. We are the oversight branch of our city government, legislative branch. So certainly under my presidency, I do not plan on just ratifying any contract that comes before
us. Further discussion, councelors. president. Uh I just wanted to bring to light as well um the the different roles that we have throughout um from a department head standpoint um just just ensuring that we have a good grasp on um
a firm job description and ensure that those job descriptions are embedded um somewhere. And I I need to take a better look at it myself personally, but I know when you take a look at multiple different department heads, they hold
several roles. So if we were to lose a particular department head, you know, said role wouldn't be just slot into that particular role. So I I just as a council when we take a look at everything as a whole uh I would
I would really like us to consider the the job descriptions that that these um department and thank you for that. I just want to remind the motion is to table the discussion and request certain information from the mayor about aspects of this ordinance proposal including job
descriptions. Um council Kazinskus I would just like to say I appreciate the the council's comments and I think this this is the discussion. This is why this is the um reason behind the motion is is to have a further discussion on this and and I do appreciate that it's it's
already started. I think I'm very confident in this council's ability given some of the comments that have been made during this informal meeting tonight that we will look at it thoroughly and we will consider each department head in in each situation that we're in because we do want something to be done in the future whereas in the past maybe it hasn't been
done. this is the opportunity to do that and to not have it go, well, not again this year. You know, that's not what we want to do. That's not good government and that doesn't get anybody confidence in our ability to do it. And I think that we do I'm very confident that we're going to do that with this move to take
it to another meeting and discuss it and get good information about it. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Kazinskus. Council General. Thank you, Mr. President. Just want to restate what councelor Kazinska said. This proposal should and I believe will be looked by looked at very seriously by this council. I have confidence in the
members I sit here with um that we all take this very seriously. To council Brook's points, the the salaries do need to be to looked at looked at thoroughly. I think councelor Kazinskus's motion to gather more information, make sure we do it correctly, um is what we're supposed
to be doing. That's our job. Um we don't we're not just jump in to the deep end um and move move past this. We need to take us um take our time, do our due diligence to understand the working groups uh thoughts of how they got to
where they um what we perceived and then um continue the debate when we get that information. Thank you. Thank you, Council Alex. Yes. Um I do support the raises. Should we have more time to
discuss it and to find our answers? probably. But I find it disturbing when we spend money on new parks, decorative lights in downtown, and decorative plants when department heads with vast
seniority and and in institutional knowledge come to the council for approval of a raise we claim the ability to afford. Um I with the more time I hope
I hope we can learn more. I and it's been another couple weeks would be work well, but um as our heads of these departments sit here um I don't know if you're if we realize
that um if some or all do not get those raises, will they go or will they stay? We don't know that. Um, you know, I've I've heard someone say that, you know, it's it's it's a
commendable thing to stay in your city where you live and work and um but the way the world is today, people need more money just to survive. It's tough out there. All right. So, um I will I will support the raises, but
I would also like more time. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Harden. Council may I just I just want to correct um what the C previous counselor said. Um just the flower pot program and I believe the holiday lights program are self-funded programs. There's no city monies that that goes towards those. I really Okay.
So that's that's a very important thing that that's not part of this budget. Thank you. Y councelor Heath. Thank you uh President Tyros. Um all the councils had a great point. Um, you know, obviously I second what
um, councelor Kasinskus went ahead and she put forward as far as um, you know, basically more time with uh, steps to go ahead and look into this and vet this um, vet this out.
Um I have a concern similar to um councelor Harden and that is basically you know I don't want to see you know anyone leave. I don't want to see anyone leave on the you know during this process I
don't you know I don't want applications filled out things as such while they think that we're not giving them the due diligence in this situation right here. Um, you know, the we support the department heads. We understand it's
it's hard out here today. You know what I mean? I'm out in the stores every day. I know how hard it is. I see the grocery bills. I know, you know, how much it cost to be able to get by. So, I understand the want for a raise. I asked for one in my personal job, you know.
Um, so I understand it. But I think that we definitely do need to go ahead and go look into this as the counselors went ahead and said um and make sure that we're giving them, you know, what they need. Whether that's exactly what's on this paper or if it's,
you know, amended and adjusted, it is what it is. Um but, you know, I I I'm definitely in favor of giving raises. Um, and I, you know, I I I want the surrounding communities to go ahead and go look at Gardener saying, "Wow, you
know, like the city of Gardner takes care of their employees. The city of Gardner takes care of their department heads," which they already do um somewhat um in some situations, but you know, like I just want to go ahead and go make sure that they're taken care of.
Right now, we're thriving out here. We're doing very well. You know, like they they you know, the community is seeing exactly what us sitting here at this table. You sitting behind that microphone, the mayor sitting over there
with glasses I didn't know you had on. Um but you know, like they're really, you know, I'm in out in the public and they keep doing what you guys are doing, you know, and things and such. And it's not just us. They're a big part of this. So, I I I'm definitely in support of it.
Can I sit here and say for every dollar? I'm not going to say that right there because I I I got a brain freeze without you and ice cream reading it. So, like I I'm just in favor of it with the steps that councelor Kinska said. Thank you. Again, any further discussion on
more time. One one more statement I Mr. President, relative to more time. Relative to more time. Let me think this through in my head. Make your statement council. Yes. Um relative to more time things are not given, things are
earned. I will say that we got to we got to watch what we say. Things are not given, things are earned. There should be a process in place for things to be earned, not given. We don't give anything. That's all I have to say. Thank you, Council Tony. Councelor
Hegman. Thank you. Um you know, I appreciate the the motion for more time. I think based on everything we've said tonight, and I really appreciate everyone's comments, there's a lot of thought going into this, so I think we're going to benefit from it. I think on that topic as well, I know there was an item before us that looks like an amendment to this. I'm going to hand to
the clerk now three amendments that I intend to bring forth forward just so she can get it to everyone for your consideration as well. So, when we're thinking about more time, um there's other things it looks like we want to consider. So, I think that's going to be valuable for everyone as well. um especially as we debate operational
onetime expenses like parks versus you know continue operation I'm sorry operational uh like salaries and and one-time expenses like a capital improvement project like a park or something. So I think that's um you know we're going to have some good discussions going forward and I appreciate the motion for more time and
I'm going to pass off to the clerk some amendments to give you all some thoughts for future meetings. Thank you. Any further comments? Council Brooks. I I have a question. So if we if we approve tableabling this item, how does that impact the budget?
Are we going is the intention then to reduce the line items for department head salaries in order to line it up with what number it else might be or are we leaving it in place with the salary ordinance that's being proposed? Council
Brooks, I can only answer procedurally that this item is relative to an ordinance for the salary schedule. The actual funding of those salaries is a separate item, correct? In our budgets. So, so that's that. All right. Then I'll hold my question till later. Thank you.
Thank you. Further discussion. I agree with my fellow counselors that it's a significant uh proposal that requires uh definite uh insight and study. Um, so I can support more time. Uh, just a point of clarity, is the
motion going to be voted on during the informal meeting or is this for the formal meeting? We will be taking the motion's been made and seconded to make a request and action for this item. So I have if there's no more comments, I will be taking a vote. Okay. Thank you. So yeah. So what's what's the motion? The
motion is when we get to that point because I have to go first. Excuse me, counselor. What is your question? What when do we get to what is the motion? Because I have to vote first. The motion is to request more time and make a specific request for the salary
study for the working group composition membership. The form uh their the work they did an explanation of the figures they uh came to the cost projections for one three and five and 10 year or three
five and 10 years and to table discussion and request more time. I think I got it. You got it. And I just want to make a reminder too that counselors have the ability to make communications to the mayor to request more information. Not just that specific information we're voting on, but this is
the starting point. All those in favor? I I. All those opposed, no. Motion passes. All right. As have done in years past, we will now review the FY2026 budget spreadsheet, which is inclusive
of items 1540 through 11549. For organizational purposes, when referring to a particular line item in the budget, please state the line number located at the far left side of the page. To begin, I propose that we amend the non-union salary line
items to reflect current ordinance. Given the scale of this proposal, I think this is the best way for us to go about this to start from a base by which is set by current ordinance. I think gives us time and the ability to assess from best position to look at the whole picture. From the
bottom line, this budget includes a $1.3 million increase in spending on the city side. about a third of that proposal is this proposal. I don't want there to be too much sticker shock, but I do want to stress how important this is and why we should go about it this way. I also
think we need to better assess what, if any, areas of the budget are being squeezed to pay for this in an unsustainable way. Is there any objection or discussion around my proposal? Council. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I had some
other, you know, words and I think it applies to this better. So, I'm glad I I waited on this item of of the salaries and the compensation schedule and I think we do need to check some things um or at least get further clarification as we're looking into these things. Um, so I I will I think be
supporting the this this proposal as it stands right now. We definitely need some more information. Um, from a point of view of us thoroughly examining this proposal, it is a significant change. It makes sense to start from last year's numbers. As we review this and make changes, it could likely mean moving
funds between sections of the budget. In any case, no matter what's budgeted, as we discussed, right, raises can't be paid until we pass the ordinance. Anyway, something I noticed that, you know, as an example of something I think we need to look at, though, is that not all proposed salary raises line up with the proposed salary ordinance. So, what
some of the numbers in the budget don't necessarily match the scale. And then because the schedule is by higher date, not fiscal year, there could be issues there, I assume, as some people could potentially be getting a raise at the start of a fiscal year and then another partially through the fiscal year. Uh I
haven't gone through each position. I haven't gone through the line by line just yet, but I think it's something that needs to be double checked uh as there does seem to be some disagreement as well as where employees would be starting at on the scale um versus what's being budgeted for. So, thinking of our our dear clerk, um you know, step
three is 96,597. Our clerk will hit 5 years of service on January 5th, which would push her on to step four at $100,461.50. However, in the budget proposal we have before us, the only it only allotted for
$96,969. So, it looks to be off by a few grand. Um, and I also found some that seem to be overbudgeted. So, I guess my thought is that we really do need to make sure that each is double checked because in a worst case scenario, if each of those positions is off by a little bit, we either need to cross our
fingers and hope that the overages and underages work out at the end of the year or we might find ourselves plugging a hole that could come up as a result of this. My second thought is that if it's all based on a schedule, shouldn't it be exact? I know as a teacher I can trace
my step scale and see exactly where I am. It always matches my hire my you know contract letter at the start of the school year. Numbers match up perfectly. So it's probably likely that someone will you know leave or retire over the course of the year. But I don't think we should count on that as a matter of
budgeting to make sure we can afford the steps that we're expecting to hopefully if if everyone does stay. So I think we need to be prepared and and budget for the potential highest salary cost. um and and again we could be talking, you know, $100,000 or more as a worst
case scenario. Um when we look at some of these salaries, so I know someone could say in a $90 million budget, what's maybe $100,000, but I think it's important and um I want to have confidence in these numbers before we vote on them. Thank you. Thank you, Council Hein.
So just to be clear as we go through the 26 pages of the budget line items, my proposal is that when we're referring to this item, I will um go about it by looking at the current ordinance, which would be the uh 2025 revised budget. So
I'd like to begin council. Okay. So, just just a question and and I guess it's it's maybe through the chair to the city auditor or the mayor. If if the salary is in the ordinance is 52,000, are we budgeting
52,000 or we budgeting 52,000 plus a day because a year can be 522. Is that a question for the mayor? It's for whoever. I I don't know how I don't know how we budget. Would you like to affirm for the mic to pick you up? It's 52.
Yeah, that's uh 52,000 in a day is what we budget for. 52,000 in a day. Excuse me. The um Yeah, the salary plus a day. Plus a day because it's 52.2 weeks. That's what I was That's the 52. 52.2 weeks. I bring that up, Mr. President, because if we're looking at the salary
ordinance, we're not necessarily taking that number. That number has to be adjusted by adding a day anyway. It's the it's the accountant in me, right? Absolutely. And that's why this is an formal meeting so we can go through the budget. Yep. And then focus on the actual operations and expenses to
the city, focus our discussion for salaries at a later time. Let's begin with page one, line one through line 38. Are there any reports from standing committees or any questions or comments from the council? Are there any proposed
cuts? Councelor Eg. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, so something I spoke about at the finance committee meeting and I asked questions about of the, you know, departments we met with and I want to revisit this. It's related to professional development and travel.
It's not that I'm opposed to this kind of spending. I think professional development is a great idea. But at the very least, I think we should scrutinize it a bit closer and and get a better answer on some things. Almost all of our citywide departments have a line item for professional development and travel. In total next year, I know the mayor
budgeted, if you add up every department, almost $100,000, which is, you know, for professional development travel, which is a slight decrease from last year. However, some departments are proposed to see significant increases. At the hearing, I was told, you know, this covers memberships to professional
associations who offer PD, um, other organizations, as well as attending certain events. Uh however, I do plan on looking more into this because I think it could benefit from a deeper look. Uh the way these funds are distributed, at least on their face, don't appear to be equitable across the departments and I
think some more transparency on this would be a good thing and I'd like to understand the benefits that the city is getting out of this. My other thought is if we step back and look at the whole budget, there's really not a lot of discretionary spend. Once you back out salaries, core
requirements, health insurance, pension liability, energy costs, that discretionary money like $100,000 is actually pretty significant figure considering what's actually left on the table. So when we think about our priorities, so for instance, the finance committee
heard and and people reported about not being able to buy a new coffee machine um for what seemed like way too long of a time or that previously, right, heat broke down, there was a struggle to get the heat fixed and finding the funds, bathrooms that couldn't be used. And I could go on. I think in assessing what's on the list of nice to haves that we're
funding, um you know, we just shouldn't be shy in asking these questions. So really, I have no cut proposed for tonight at this meeting. meeting. I know we have some future meetings that I might because I do plan to seek more information. Plus, I haven't had a chance to watch all of the meetings yet. Um, so some were just posted today. So,
just want to put that out there that I'm going to be seeking more information and hopefully next time around I'll have some some better info for everybody. Thank you. No comments. We'll move to page two lines 39 through
80. Are there any proposed cuts from the council? Any questions or comments from the council? We'll proceed to page three. Are there any proposed cuts from the council or any questions or comments from the council? Lines 82 through 120.
Page four, lines 121 through 160. Are there any proposed cuts or any questions or comments from the council? Page five, line 161 through 202. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or
comments from the council, page six, line 203 through 244. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council? Page seven, lines 245 through
286. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council? Page seven, sorry, page eight, lines 287 through 328. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council?
Page nine, lines 239 through 370. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council, page 10, lines 371 through 413. Are there any
proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council? Page 11, lines 414 through 455. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council? Page
12, lines 456 through 497. Are there any proposed cuts, questions, or comments from the council, page 13, lines 498 through 539. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments
from the council? Page 14, lines 540 through 581. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council? Page 15, line 582 through 623. Are there any
proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council? Page 16, lines 624 through 663. Are there any proposed cuts or comments from the council? Page
17, line 664 through 705. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council? Page 18, line 706 through 749. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the
council? Page 19. Council Tony, page 18. I just Yes. I just did want, Mr. President, I just wanted to take note and I think the council is fully aware that there was a proposed budget for $4.3 million for repairs and maintenance. Uh that was
removed as well as a new equipment um budget for proposed budget for $1.425 million um what line number I'm sorry I'm sorry I really am I do apologize.
713 is line number for the 4.3 million that was removed and line number 712 was for the 1.425. I just wanted to point that out, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Tony, Councelor Mack. Um, can I ask the mayor
if those were cut with the intention of using free cash for those items? Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, counselor. uh when I ask the departments to submit their budgets to me, I ask them for two numbers. One is the more realistic number. The other one is the wish list that if the budget has a if
the department was to have um the resources for all of the items that are before them to have everything the way their department could run soup, nuts, bells, whistles, everything. Uh so that's what this number includes here too. So this is paving for all of the streets in the city that are rated a one. Uh this is for new equipment for
all vehicles that are over a certain age. Uh and this is just within the department of public works. Um so we do have in our financial policies that we have for the city uh free cash appropriation request being uh to be submitted in the equivalent amount of 10% of um certified free cash for the
road resurfacing. Uh it cost about a million and a half to pave a mile of road under current cost that we have uh with the contracts that were set out to bid and opened last week. Um and then the uh vehicles are on whatever rotation schedule that we can go with those through. Normally in the past we have
either done either grant funding uh for those various vehicles or uh free cash items. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Councelor Mac, does that satisfy your question? Yes. Thank you. Any further questions on page 18? Councelor Eith, I just want to make sure there's a correction that was 713 line
item for the 4.3 and not 712 because that's 10,000. It's 711. Am I right? For the 1.25. Line item 713 is for road resurfacing expenses. The department requested 4.3
million million dollars. Yep. And then the second one was line item 711. Correct. Fantastic. Any further questions? Page 19, lines 750 through
791. Any questions, comments from the council? Any proposed budget cuts? Page 20, line 792 through 832. Any proposed cuts or questions from
counselors, page 21, line 833 through 874. Are there any proposed cuts or questions from counselors? Page 22, lines 875 through 916. Are there any
proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council? Page 23, line 917 through 958. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council?
Page 24, lines 959 through 10 0. Are there any proposed cuts or questions or comments from the council, page 25, lines 10 01 through 1041.
Are there any proposed cuts or questions from the council? And page 26, line 1042. Any comments from council or proposed cut? Councelor D allowance. Just a
general comment on the entire budget. I know particularly in finance and I know the committee um committee meetings on this budget many of the discussions as has already been stated were about um shortfalls and not being able to pay for things that in non- salary items and
where how we're going to be able to pay for them um hence not many cuts because there may be sections where we're not funding at a high enough level. Um, one item I was remiss in pointing out under information technology there was an increase um item line item 307 um which
was discussed during the finance committee meeting um director O'Keeffe uh made it clear that our desktops are no longer can no longer be updated um and we need to replace them because the operating system no longer supported so that was an increase there um for a significant increase from previous years
and that is the reason why. Thank you. Thank you councelor journal councelor Hegman. Thank you, Mr. President. I think it, you know, jumping on that, too. I think I just want to reiterate that where our meetings really just wrapped up Thursday, Friday, here we are only a couple days later, I think we'll I'll definitely be taking advantage of
the extra time between now and our next meeting to look things through, watch those meetings. Um, so just for any public watching at home, while a lot of this is level funded and there and there really isn't a lot of wiggle room from at least my experience in the finance committee and the budgets we looked at, um, you know, things could change over
the next coming weeks. So, um, I think it's important to know that we're not done. There's just a start and and we have a ways to go before we're we're over. Thank you. Any further comments on the topic of tonight's meeting? Councelor Gazinskus, I appreciate Councelor Hegel's comments and your
opening comments. Uh, President Tyro is just on the process. Uh, it's a long process. There's a lot that goes into it. Uh, and there's it's a lot to absorb. So, I'm glad that we have more time for many reasons, but um this is this is typically when we get here.
There's been a lot of work done um up to this point and uh so it is as the budget sits right now. As you said, there's a lot of level funding going on. There's but there's been other previous discussions. So, um I really appreciate that we can watch those meetings on on
YouTube and really um absorb what those discussions were. Um, but also the work that's gone into the budget up to this point. Um, you know, through the mayor, through the departments, through the auditor, and the city council, it's it really is um it's a year-long effort,
quite honestly, and these these next few weeks are are when we take a look at it and do our deep dive, but it really is happening all the time um because things are uncertain a lot of the time. So, I appreciate your comments. Thank you, Councelor Mac. I just want to add that in addition to um the numbers that with
our budget we received the each department head's narratives and this is the second year that we've received those and those are are extremely helpful um at least I think so to let us understand what the real needs of the departments are but also what each
department has um their successes and their services have been over the past year. Um the library is a perfect example to see how many people they serve. Uh so we have a lot of information but I just want to thank the department heads because the more they
tell us in their narratives the the more helpful it is to really understand because to dive in to what their individual needs are and I as I said in I think it was the public welfare committee never be afraid to brag and and tell us what your accomplishments are because that's very important because we don't always hear it. Thank
you. Thank you councelor Mack councelor uh Cormier. Uh I'll second that uh councelor Max's comments on with bed. It's very helpful to understand not just uh the budget but you know what's affecting their budget. Uh and the two meetings that uh that I sat in on. Um I
think the the focus was not only is it mostly level funded but there's not a lot of room for cuts because expenses have been going up still. Um public works uh equipment and uh supplies. Same with police, fire. Um, you know, as
expenses roll through, it's not giving us a lot of room to cut. So, we're not just blowing through this with uh with nothing to say. Thank you, Councelor Cormier. Councelor Tone. Mr. President, just real quick, I I think as as city
councilors, it's our job to listen to the committees that we serve throughout the course of the year, and I think they do a great job of explaining where where the monies that we do spend throughout the course. Ultimately, this is a business. This is a business that parts
change, things change throughout the course of the year. And we have department heads who make those decisions for our business. and we can see it, we can track it in the financial I know the finance department uh finance financial committee does a great job of
that. But uh nothing's going to be perfect. Nothing's going to be etched in stone and say this is the final product, but we're doing we're doing our best. And so I just say thank you to each and every council member and thank you to every department head who took the time to put this budget before us. Thank you.
Thank you councelor. Further comment councelor Brooks. now. All right, you can ask your question. Yes, sir. So, I noticed in the in the agendas somewhere we the um Council on Aging Recreational Activities Revolving
Fund was bumping from 40 to 60,000. Do we need to adjust the authorization for next year to show it as 60,000 or is it staying? I'll be calling on the mayor as we actually discuss this particular issue. Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Uh the current authorization
hasn't been authorized yet, so I didn't want to put something up that hadn't been authorized by the council yet. Uh so if that was to go up, uh the plan at least from the administration side of things uh was to where that's only a one vote item uh was to put up basically an amended item for the next meeting if
that was to pass. if the revolving accounts were to also pass uh to basically amend it uh to the intention is to go to 60,000. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Any further discussion?
I would just like Oh, councelor Heg on 11539. It dawned on me while we were talking that we have motion for more time and some questions, but we didn't actually assign it to a committee so that it can have a vehicle to discuss
this again. Um, so with that, I want to move to refer item 11539 to the committee of the whole for further study and review. Second. Motion made by councelor Hegel, second by councelor Dalawitz to reconsider um item
11539 to amend the motion to assign it to council. Did you say the app? Is there discussion? All those in favor? I I. All those opposed, no. Motion passes. Any
further comments? I would also like to thank the department heads. I thought the second year of the budget narratives was a great success. We received a a lot of harmony narrative this year, which I thought was great. And uh I also want to acknowledge that we had a uh I would
call it a featurelength public welfare committee meeting uh that was uploaded to YouTube this morning. It is 3 hours long. Uh and we had already planned for the council having uh tenatively scheduled a June 9th informal budget
meeting due to the public welfare meetings video not being uploaded till this morning. and the economic development and uh economic and community development department budget hearing uh not being uploaded till this morning. I will be asking the clerk to schedule the June 9th informal to give
counselors an opportunity to review those videos, give the public an opportunity to review those videos and uh it might be brief, but I think it would be appropriate for us to meet one more time on the budget. Excellent. With that, I will now uh hearing no no further business, I will now close this part of the meeting
and we will reconvene at 7:30 for our regular city council meeting. Thank you. Part: 2
I call to order the Monday, June 2nd meeting of the Gardener City Council. The clerk will now please call the role. Councelor Brooks, present. Councelor Craig Cormier, present. Councelor Delawitz, present. Councelor Harder, present. Council Heath, present. Council Hegland, present. Council Kazinskus, present. Council Math, present. Council
Tony, present. Council Tibbo Munos. President Tyrus present. Those who wish may now rise for the opening prayer and pledge of allegiance. Mighty God, we thank you for bringing us together this evening. Inspire us to worthy deeds and sound decisions and
direct us towards the attainment of good city government. We pray that you bless and protect all the people of our city and do so and inspire us that we may liberate in unity and harmony. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Announcement of open meeting recording. Any person may make a video or audio recording of any open session of a meeting or may transmit the meeting
through any medium subject to reasonable requirements of the chair as to the number, placement, and operations of equipment used so as to not interfere with the conduct of the meeting. Any person intending to make such a recording shall notify the chair forth with all documents and exhibits used or referenced at the meeting must be
submitted in duplicate to the city clerk as they become part of the meeting minutes. Is anyone recording tonight's meeting? No response. There are no prior meeting minutes. There are no public hearings. There are no communications from the
mayor. Petitions, applications, communications. Item 11591, an ordinance to amend the gardener zoning map by changing the zoning district designation for the following existing parcel lying on the
easterly side of MA-101 in eastern gardener for the commercial twozoning district to the industrial one zoning district with summit solar overlay submitted by attorney Christine Tree. Councelor Mack.
Yes. I make a motion to refer this item to both the public welfare subcommittee and the planning board so a joint public hearing can be scheduled within a timely manner. Second motion made by councelor Mack, second by councelor Heath to refer the item to the public planning board and public welfare and that a joint
public hearing be scheduled. Is there discussion? All those in favor? I. All those opposed, no. Motion passes. Report of Standing Committees, Public Safety Committee. Item 11535, an application by Gardener Coins
and Cards, Inc. for a license to deal in secondhand articles at 18 Parker Street. Councelor Cormier. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh the committee met on this item uh and discussed with the chief of police and the city clerk. They are in good standing with both uh and they are
long-standing business. We therefore move to approve the application. Second motion made by councelor Cormier, second by councelor journal allowance to approve the application. Is there discussion? All those in favor? I. I. All those opposed? No. Motion passes.
Item 11536, an application by House of Peace and Education, Inc. doing business as Hopeful Boutique for a license to deal in secondhand articles at 29 Pleasant Street. Council Cormier. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh again, a long-standing
business that's been doing good work in Gardener. Uh they are in good standing with both the police chief and the tax roles city clerk. Uh therefore, we were unanimous in our uh movement to uh approve the application. And I move to
approve the application. Second. Motion made by councelor Cornary, second by councelor Harter to approve the application. Is there discussion? All those in favor? I. I. All those opposed, no. Motion passes. Public Welfare Committee. Item
11523, an order authorizing the spending limit of the Council on Aging Recreational Activities Revolving Account to $60,000 or available balance, whichever is lower, pursuant to section 53E 1/2 of chapter 44 of the
Massachusetts General Laws. Councelor Mack. Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. the public welfare um had a presentation by the mayor and director Ellis in regards to the need to increase the recreation account for the council of aging um for their lifeline program which they've taken over from Hwood
Hospital. The subcommittee voted to refer this item to the finance committee. So I will make a motion to refer this item to the finance committee for study and report. Second motion made by councelor Mack, second by councelor Heath to refer this item to the finance committee. Is there discussion?
All those in favor I. I. All those opposed, no. Motion passes. Item 11532, an order accepting gifts and donations to the Gardener Senior Center. Councelor Mack. Thank you. Director Ellis and the senior center continue to
benefit from the gen generosity of local businesses, foundations, and service organizations. The list of donations is on page 17 in our packet. The welfare committee was in favor, and I move the order. Second. Motion made by councelor Mack, second by councelor Heath to move
the order. Is there discussion? All those in favor? I. I. All those opposed? Motion passes. Economic and community development. Item 11511. An ordinance to amend the code of the
city of Gardner, chapter 171, thereof entitled personnel to amend schedule E thereof entitled non-union compensation schedule to add the position of economic development and finance manager. Councelor Kazinskus. Thank you, Mr. President. I make a motion to send the
item to second and final printing. Second. Motion made by councelor Kazinskus, second by councelor Mack to move the item to second and final printing. Is there discussion? This will be a roll call vote. Clerk will please now call the role. Councelor
Brooks, yes. Councelor Craig Cormier, yes. Councelor Dawitz, yes. Councelor Harder, yes. Councelor Heath, yes. Council Heglan, yes. Councelor Kazinskus, yes. Councelor Matt, yes. Councelor Tone, yes. And President Tyros, yes. Tany motion passes.
There's no unfinished business. There's no new business. Counselor comments and remarks. Are there any counselor comments or remarks? Councelor Brooks. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, this past week I was honored to attend three different graduations. Uh, and I think graduates
and their families should be very proud of the graduates accomplishments and should be encouraged to keep going forward. The first I will mention is an arrogance graduation. Uh there were 90 graduates in that including my grandson for which I'm very proud. Uh at the
award ceremony they gave uh prizes and scholarships of about $150,000. I'm on the Monty Tech School Board and I attended that graduation there were 344 graduates and at their awards ceremony they gave out I think between 200 and
$300,000. uh some of that bolstered by uh large uh scholarships for students who have gone into the military and the military is paying for their schooling. But I have to confess that I I am a homer. So I also attended the
Gardener High graduation of which I am a member of the class of 73 having graduated from the former is that the right word counselor? the former high school on Elm Street, which is now the Elm Street School, not to be confused with the former high school on Elm Street, which is the Helen May Solder
School. I'm not that old. And they gave out uh there were 150 graduates. It was the 150th commencement, which was ironic. and uh the awards assembly gave out a little
over $500,000 in scholarships and prizes. I think the community should be very proud of that. We're very fortunate to have the Stone Fund, the Herald and Miller Gates Fund, Gem Industry funds that make significant and multi-year uh
gifts to these students. Uh but they're also a plethora. I use the word plethora because I think that was a high school word we had to learn in English of smaller prizes that honor the work and and uh potential of garden high school
graduates. Uh many of the name I enjoy going because many of the names I recognize as people I knew either in school or growing up in the community or whose stories I know from having heard my parents talk about some of these uh benefactors. Uh tonight I'm just going
to mention uh Miss Virginia Aldrich who was uh a history teacher at Gardener High School. She did uh world history freshman year. We had to do uh notebooks and at the end of every chapter we had to hand in our notebooks and she would
review and grade each chapter as we went along. So one day early in fall, I decided not to do the assignment for the day because she wasn't collecting it until the following week. So what was the hurry? So needless to say, I was very
surprised when the next day she asked everyone to open their notebooks and show the homework. So I opened my notework notebook and obviously didn't have anything to show. And as she came by, I said, "I didn't do it." And she said, "Okay." and she's marking in her books and goes around to the
classroom. And when she was done, she went up to the front of the class and she said, "Well, that kind of went as I thought. You know, most of you did your homework, but I was very surprised that Calvin Brooks did not do his homework." and the gasp in the
room and everybody turned and looked at me and ever after that I did my homework when it was assigned because I was never going to be put through that embarrassment again and that's the way that's a teacher who knew how to do it and I think you know to have her honored
in that way is is important. Uh so I just want to tip my hat to all of the all of the graduates this year. Thank you. Further comments councelor Heath. Uh thank you President Tyrros. Um, I'm going to echo exactly what my fellow counselor over here said. Um, I I I got
to go to two graduations. Um, um, one over there at the, uh, alt school, great graduation. Um, I know a lot of kids since we were four or five years old. Um, and watching them go ahead and be able to, you know, flip their cap, throw in the air, all that good stuff was
great to go ahead and go see because a lot of those kids, um, they were lost with, you know, with no direction. And then um you know I got to be honest with you that they they they got the direction in that school. Um you know um big shout out to the teachers over there
and um such I I seen a lot of tears. Um I got out of there a little early cuz you know it touches me to see them being able to get to that next step. Um going off of the 150 kids over there at Gardener High School. I was there with um a lot of other counselors as well.
Um, and knowing that the city of Gardener was able through a lot of the scholarships give some of these kids, you know, over $500,000, knowing that they're going to be my age and not have to pay for college loans. You know, that that
touches me as well. Um, you know, I I I'll take a quote that a counselor said earlier here. It wasn't given, it was earned. um they earned it and the background of some of those kids they needed it you
know and then you know it's this is just another great thing about the city of gardener uh the school system and uh such so that oh one other thing the graduation itself it was a gamble for those that know it's rained
like 13 14 weeks straight on Saturdays And you know, even that morning, I was like, "Uhoh, I brought two umbrellas to go to this." And it seemed like as soon as, you know, um, Miss Bulier went out in that stage, that sun came out, I had
to take a picture of the blue sky cuz I haven't seen it for a while. And um, it became a beautiful day for those kids. That is all. Thank you. Thank you, councelor Heath. Professor Cormier, I'd be remiss not to include the 12 eighth grade graduates from Holy Family since my daughter was one of them.
Congratulations to them and the school. Congratulations to your daughter. Further comments. I just have one. As councelor Heath said, u Garner High School principal Balure uh made an amazing call this weekend uh to have high school graduation outside. Uh however, she also
announced that it would be her last graduation as a Gardner High School principal. And as someone who graduated Gardenner High School with five principles in four years, I was a bit jealous that she wasn't my principal because I've heard amazing things and I think she'll be well missed and I think she put in a solid foundation for her
successor to follow on. So, thank you. Uh, Principal Balier, you will be missed, but very much appreciated. Any further comments? Councelor Tone, I was the school committee member when you were in high school. So I know all about
those principles that we went through. That's all I have. Councelor Mac, I can add to that. I was an employee of American High School and I had seven principles in 10 years. So it was very uh tumultuous and very inconsistent. Um
and Mrs. soldier um as principal um my boss and a very good friend has done a wonderful job and I wish her luck in her new position within the city of Gardner school department. Thank you. Thank you councelor Mack councelor journal. We're all so two things. I'd like to thank
Principal Bulgar for her service. I got to go to one graduation. It was Monty text. My niece graduated. However, I'd be remiss in not stating how gapper council Brooks looked up in that stage. Thank you. Thank you. Councelor J. Allow its further comments and
remarks. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn after the closing prayer. So move. Motion made by councelor Tony, second by councelor Brooks. All those in favor? I. All those opposed, no. Motion passes. Mighty father see us overall. As we
adjourn, we thank you for the opportunity of joint deliberation and action witness in the course of this meeting. Bless the Lord all here and the peoples represent the do our common welfare until our next meeting. Amen. We
stand a journ. Thank you.