Votes at a glance: Gardner City Council advances ordinances, approves pole relocation and donations

The Gardner City Council on March 2 took several formal actions during its regular meeting, moving multiple items forward and approving routine petitions.

The council unanimously approved a petition from National Grid to relocate two jointly owned poles on High Street (poles P30 and P31) to accommodate new construction on Newton Street. Councilor Mack, reporting for the Public Service Committee, said a public hearing on Jan. 30 produced no objections and the council passed the relocation petition.

The Finance Committee brought forward two personnel-related ordinances. One ordinance would add a new section to Exhibit F (attachment 1) of Chapter 8 to cover temporary field positions and permit those workers to be paid under the corresponding union rate rather than as 1099 contractors; the council voted to send that ordinance to first printing. A related amendment to the city's primary nonunion compensation schedule (item 11777), which adds five positions and updates golf-course pay rates, was presented; the council voted 9–1 to send that ordinance to first printing after a finance committee recommendation. The council president recused themself from consideration of item 11777 due to an appearance of a family connection.

On a slate of donation acceptance orders, the council accepted contributions to multiple departments (Council on Aging; Animal Shelter; Youth Center; Police Department; Fire Department). Councilor Hegland moved to pull the Gardner Community Action Team (GCAT) donation acceptance order (item 11782) for additional review and to refer it to the law department to answer questions about GCAT's legal organization and its use of city accounts; the council approved that referral and accepted the remaining donation items.

The Economic & Community Development Committee presented an ordinance to remove Article 9 (signs and advertising devices) from the zoning chapter and place those rules in a new standalone chapter so sign regulations can be updated administratively; the council referred the item to the planning board and scheduled a public hearing.

Councilors also completed internal business: they nominated and elected Elizabeth Kazinskas as president pro tem and voted unanimously (11–0) to enter executive session under MGL chapter 30A to discuss specified litigation and negotiation topics.

Actions at a glance:
- National Grid pole relocation (High Street): motion passed (petition approved).
- Ordinance — temporary positions (amend Exhibit F of Chapter 8): sent to first printing (motion passed).
- Ordinance 11777 — nonunion compensation schedule (adds five positions; updates golf pay): sent to first printing (9–1 vote); the council president recused from this item.
- Donation acceptance orders: accepted in group except item 11782 (GCAT) referred to law department for legal review.
- Ordinance (sign regulations): referred to planning board for public hearing.
- Election: Elizabeth Kazinskas elected president pro tem (nominations closed; motion carried).
- Executive session: council voted to enter executive session under MGL Chapter 30A (vote 11–0).

The council recessed for executive session and reconvened only for remaining procedural remarks and adjournment.