Gardner Council authorizes up-to-5-year police policy contract, ratifies personnel step designations; president pro tem elected after recusal

The Gardner City Council on April 21 approved a set of administrative and personnel measures including a procurement authorization for the police department, a personnel ratification, and a temporary leadership change.

Police contract: On Item 11813 the council authorized the purchasing agent to enter into up to a five‑year contract (including renewals) to provide a delivery system for police department policy, procedures, rules and regulation documents. A councilor explained the approach: the longer contract term can yield more competitive vendor rates and improve contract management. The motion was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Personnel ratification: The council then considered a measure to ratify the mayor’s recommendation to assign step designations for several nonunion department heads, including the Community Development and Planning Director, the Senior Center Director, the Purchasing & Civil Enforcement position, and the Director of Veterans' Affairs. Council discussion noted crediting prior years of professional experience for salary step placement; the council ratified the recommendations on a roll call with eight affirmative votes.

Recusal and president pro tem election: The council president recused themself from participation in the personnel item because a member of their immediate family is among the nonunion personnel covered by the ordinance. With the president excused, nominations opened for president pro tem for that item. Nominations were closed and a roll call produced eight votes for Councilor Elizabeth Kosinskas, who was recorded as the elected president pro tem for the item.

Mayor's spending freeze communication: The finance committee also presented a mayoral communication describing a current nonessential spending freeze that requires mayoral approval for expenditures over $1,000; the committee moved to place the communication on file and the council agreed.

What happens next: The authorized contract will be handled by the city's purchasing agent subject to vendor selection and procurement rules; the ratified step placements take effect as applied by city personnel processes. The mayoral communication remains on file for committee reference.