Monday morning, January 4, 2010. In accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the City of Gardner and Chapter 43 of the General Laws, the Mayor-Elect; Councillors at Large-Elect; Ward Councillors-Elect; and School Committee Members-Elect, met in the Honorable Chester P. Pearson Auditorium, Elm Street School, at 10:00 o’clock in the forenoon, to be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties.
The Honorable Lewis G. Evangelidis, State Representative from the 1st Worcester District, served as Master of Ceremonies and opened the Inaugural Exercises.
The Colors were posted by the Honor Guard from the Gardner American Legion Post 129.
The Invocation was given by the Reverend David R. Cote.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Assembly.
The Gardner High School Band, under the direction of Mr. Douglas Lepisto, performed “The Star Spangled Banner”.
City Clerk Alan L. Agnelli read aloud the Certificate of Election and entered in the journals of the City Council. The Results of the Votes Cast was entered into the journals of the City Council:
2010
CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION
GARDNER, MA
NOVEMBER 3, 2009
The following is a result of the votes cast at the City Election held on November 3, 2009:
MAYOR
For Two years
*Mark P. Hawke 2,498
Colleen L. O’Neil-Laperriere 759
COUNCILLORS AT LARGE
For Two years
*Patrick Michael Gerry 1,946
*Joshua L. Cormier 2,443
*Alice P. Anderson 1,844
*Scott J. Graves 1,908
*Ronald F. Cormier 2,135
*Henry P. Ares 2,054
*Kim M. Dembrosky 1,692
WARD COUNCILLORS
For Two Years
WARD ONE
Marc J. Morgan 318
*Neil W. Janssens 381
WARD TWO
*David T. Boudreau 528
WARD THREE
*Edward A. Gravel 342
Eugene A. Gemborys 295
WARD FOUR
*James J. Minns 373
WARD FIVE
*James J. Robinson, Jr. 431
Wilfred E. Ducharme, Jr. (Write-In) 236
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT LARGE
For Four Years
*James S. Boone 2,265
*Christine A. Wilson 2,009
*Matthew C. J. Vance 1,905
As a result of the votes cast at the City Election held on November 3, 2009, the following persons were declared elected:
MAYOR Mark P. Hawke
COUNCILLORS AT LARGE Alice P. Anderson
Henry P. Ares
Joshua L. Cormier
Ronald F. Cormier
Patrick M. Gerry
Scott J. Graves, Esq.
WARD COUNCILLORS Neil W. Janssens (Ward 1)
David T. Boudreau (Ward 2)
Edward A. Gravel (Ward 3)
James J. Minns (Ward 4)
James J. Robinson, Jr. (Ward 5)
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS James S. Boone
Matthew C. J. Vance
Christine A. Wilson
Roll Call of Members-Elect was taken by City Clerk Alan L. Agnelli:
PRESENT:
MAYOR Mark P. Hawke
COUNCILLORS-AT-LARGE Alice P. Anderson
Henry P. Ares
Joshua L. Cormier
Ronald F. Cormier
Patrick M. Gerry
Scott J. Graves, Esq.
WARD COUNCILLOR Neil W. Janssens (1)
David T. Boudreau (2)
Edward A. Gravel (3)
James J. Minns (4)
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS James S. Boone
Matthew C. J. Vance
Christine A. Wilson
ABSENT:
WARD COUNCILLOR James J. Robinson, Jr. (5)
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Worcester, ss. Gardner, MA January 4, 2010
I, ALAN L. AGNELLI, City Clerk of the City of Gardner, do hereby certify that on the 4th day of January, 2010 at ten o’clock in the forenoon, at a meeting of the Mayor-Elect; Councillors-at-Large-elect; Ward Councillors-elect; and School Committee Members at Large-Elect, I administered the oath required by the City Charter to the following:
MAYOR-ELECT-for Two Years Mark P. Hawke
COUNCILLORS AT LARGE-ELECT- Alice P. Anderson
For Two Years Henry P. Ares
Ronald F. Cormier
Joshua L. Cormier
Patrick M. Gerry
Scott J. Graves, Esq.
WARD COUNCILLORS-ELECT- Neil W. Janssens (1)
For Two Years David T. Boudreau (2)
Edward A. Gravel (3)
James J. Minns (4)
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT LARGE- James S. Boone
ELECT - for Four Years Matthew C. J. Vance
Christine A. Wilson
Who severally solemnly swore that they would faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office for which they have been elected in the City of Gardner according to the best of their ability and in conformity with law.
In testimony of all of which as required by the City Charter, I make this certificate to be entered on the journals of the meetings of the City Council.
/s/ Alan L. Agnelli, City Clerk
The Gardner High School Band, under the direction of Mr. Douglas Lepisto, performed “Pachelbel’s Canon”.
The Honorable Mark P. Hawke delivered the following Inaugural Address:
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Good morning, Happy New Year and welcome.
Happy New Year, I say that because I believe 2010 will be a better year than 2009. I maintain an optimistic view but take a conservatives approach.
Today, we are all a part of history. I do not believe that an inauguration has ever taken place at one of the City’s schools.
I would like to welcome the class of 2017 to today’s festivities. Thank you to the students, Principal Swedberg and Superintendent Daring for allowing us to be a part of your school day.
I would also like to welcome: Senator Flanagan, Senator Brewer, Representative Rice, Representative Gobi,
Mayor McKean, Mayor Kelley, Mayor Agnelli Department Heads, Friends and family
Congratulations to the returning members of the City Council and School Committee and welcome to the two new City Councilors Patrick Gerry and Ed Gravel and new School Committee member Matthew Vance. I know we will all benefit from your energy and ideas.
I would be remiss if I did not pay a special thank you to my wife, Shelly, for her love and support, my mother Nancy, my in-laws George and Nancy and my entire family for their continued encouragement and assistance.
Today’s Master of Ceremonies, State Representative Lew Evangelidis, represents the communities of Holden, Hubbardston, Oakham, Princeton, Rutland, Sterling and Westminster. The Representative and I have many things in common including the fact that we are both Alums of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, although he was obviously an alumnus long before I was.
I asked Representative Evangelidis to be today’s Master of Ceremonies because he has the tendency to stand out in a crowd, not just because he stands at six feet seven inches tall, but it is because of his personality. When the Representative is in a crowded room, chances are you will end up talking to him. Lew is a very outgoing and personable guy that truly takes an interest in what you have to say. He is not afraid to cross the aisle at the State House or stand alone when he fights for his district.
I’ve had the honor and privilege of knowing the Representative for several years and have grown to admire his independent spirit. He is truly a Representative of the people and for the people and we are fortunate to have him as part of our North Central Massachusetts delegation.
Representative Evangelidis has been a strong advocate, not just for his district, but for Central Massachusetts in general. He is not alone in this category of steadfast leadership for Central Massachusetts.
Senator Flanagan, who I’ve come to know very well over the past two years, has been a sensational ally and advocate for the City of Gardner, and all of Central Massachusetts. Before even taking office, Senator Flanagan worked diligently for her future district during the Ice storm of 2008 and she hasn’t stopped since.
Senator Brewer, the Dean of the area elected officials, has been a family friend for many years. My father admired Senator Brewer for his dedication, his devotion and most of all his common-sense values. This is an admiration I also share. Senator Brewer has been a friend to me personally, to Gardner and to all of Central Massachusetts.
Our own Representative Rice has been another staunch advocate for Central Massachusetts. I’ve known the Representative ever since he wrote me a hall pass back in high school. Representative Rice is another independent voice at the State House that votes with his district in mind before the wishes of the leadership.
Representative Anne Gobi who represents a multitude of communities, including neighboring Templeton also joins us here today. Representative Gobi can often be seen on the Millers River during the River Rat Race, usually about two canoes ahead of me. Representative Gobi rounds out the list of Central Massachusetts advocates who go beyond their legislatively delegated communities to work for the common good.
I wanted to highlight this regionalist group of legislators because during difficult fiscal times, we ban together. We look for regional approaches in order to consolidate and find savings. In good financial times or bad, we must continue this approach.
We are not 351 individual communities, we are one Commonwealth. If an industry comes to Gardner, Winchendon or Fitchburg, we must be able to realize how all the surrounding communities will benefit. When we work together to sell the north central region as a whole, we all win.
When we roar with a single unified voice, we are louder than a multitude of individual expressions.
Over the course of my first term in office, together, we achieved many successes, overcame seemingly insurmountable budgetary issues, and weathered a natural disaster unlike we’ve ever seen before.
Personally, I experienced the highest of highs with the birth of my son, Justin and the lowest of lows with the passing of my father, Robert, and my sister, Linda. I would like to thank the citizens of Gardner, the elected officials, and all the City’s employees for their thoughts and prayers during those most difficult periods.
Gardner is a City, but it has a small town feel. During difficult times we come together as one. This is one of the reasons I have chosen to stay in the City and to raise my family here.
This community had its mettle tested during the Ice Storm of 2008. A seemingly endless array of stories can be cobbled together regarding the fetes of everyday citizens during that seemingly never-ending week.
Residents and businesses volunteered their time and materials to help each other. People with generators were running from house to house installing the generator for a few hours so the home would be able to warm up for a while before they moved onto the next home.
Fire and police personnel worked around the clock responding to a continuous string of calls and keeping our City safe.
The DPW and municipal grounds crews worked feverishly alongside National Guard troops to clear streets.
CERT volunteers manned shelters and tended to peoples worries and needs.
The school department’s administration spent time manning the desks at the schools and assisting with shelter operations and keeping the peace.
Elected officials and City Department Heads huddled together and coordinated emergency response vehicles, National Guard troops, donated labor, and utility companies.
It was a prime example of what it means to be a community. It was a prime example of what it means to be from Gardner. We came together as one.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower once stated that “Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.”
It was only two short years ago that I gave an inaugural address that listed a lengthy to do list. This list was a challenge to all of us to take a critical self-evaluation of the way we do business as a City. Some of the goals I stated were bold, new changes in our customs and others were simply fresh conservative practices.
Working together we have created the City’s first Economic Development Coordinator position. This position, made possible by the Gardner Redevelopment Authority and the Greater Gardner Industrial Foundation, along with the support of the City Council, has proven successful during one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression.
In recognition of our Economic Development efforts the City was awarded the Bronze Bio-Ready Community award from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. Our Community Development & Planning Director, Robert Hubbard, was recognized as the Member of the Year by the Massachusetts Economic Development Council and I was also honored with their Leadership Award.
In the vein of a critical self-evaluation the City underwent a Department of Revenue Financial Management Review. This independent eyeing of our current practices made multiple recommendations to improve our financial structure. We’ve adopted the majority of the recommendations and are moving toward still more changes.
Perhaps the two most notable changes have been the adoption of quarterly tax-billing and the reorganization of the City Clerk and Treasurer/Collector offices.
Both of these changes were bold, new initiatives for the City and both have begun to pay dividends financially and through the efficiencies realized in personnel movements.
One of the difficulties we, as a City, face is how to engage our citizenry. How do we disseminate information, news and connect with the 21,000 individuals living within our community?
To help answer this question the City established a Face-Book page and re-tooled its formerly static website with a vibrant and engaging web-site that contains virtually all the information that is available at City Hall. It also allows people to sign up for email newsletters and information notices.
In recognition of our upgraded electronic presence the City was awarded the 2009 E-Government Award with Distinction by the non-profit public advocacy group Common Cause during a ceremony at the State House.
Through the diligent efforts of the School Committee and the Superintendent we have also managed to work smarter, rather than harder and have realized the reestablishment of school busing to all of the Gardner Middle School.
While these accomplishments are well and good and things we can be proud of, to paraphrase Robert Frost, we still have miles to go before we sleep, and miles to go before we sleep.
The next two years will be crucial for the City of Gardner. We must maintain our conservative fiscal approach; continue to improve our financial position and work together to continue to move Gardner forward.
While we have made great strides internally, but we will need assistance from Beacon Hill to move us forward even further. As a good Christian, I am not looking for a fish; for I know we will be far better off as a community, if we are able to fish for ourselves.
In a speech at Yale University in 1985, Mario Cuomo, former Governor of New York, said “We campaign in poetry, but once we’re elected we are forced to govern in prose”.
I’m a little tired of the poetry, and I’d be satisfied if we could just govern logically.
There are various bills languishing on Beacon Hill with regard to municipal Health Insurance pools. The most egregious of them requires municipalities to be as cost-efficient as the State’s Group Insurance Commission or be forced to bargain with their unions to become as cost-efficient.
This is not pragmatic, this is not reasonable, this is lunacy. This places an undue burden on municipalities by giving all the bargaining power to the unions. This plan, if passed, would cost municipalities millions.
I will continue to advocate for Plan Design authority for municipalities. This is the same power the state enjoys through the Group Insurance Commission, but has continually failed to pass along to municipalities. This is an example of the tools communities need in order to deal with the rigors of proposition 2 ½ as well as an unstable economy.
Continued reliance on the Property Tax in order to provide essential municipal services cannot be sustained. The meager funds received through lottery aid are simply not enough to offset the burdens placed on communities by the State prior to the implementation of Proposition 2 ½. Over the past two years, lottery aid for the City of Gardner has decreased by approximately 30% or over $1.5 million.
The most effective means of reducing the overall reliance on the property tax is for the state government to enact a permanent revenue sharing plan whereby a percentage of the state’s new growth taxes are set aside for direct municipal and school aid payments.
A true partnership between the State and its 351 Cities and Towns must be achieved.
This administration’s decision to continue the moratorium on Incinerators is, in my opinion, ill-advised.
We are told that land filling is not the solution.
We are told that incineration is not the solution.
We are also told that bio-mass is not the solution.
We are told what not to do, but we are not even given a hint of what to do.
It is my hope that with the assistance of all of our area legislators we will be able to work our way over, under or around this issue so that we may be able to realize the advancements that have occurred in incineration technology and assist all of North Central Massachusetts with their costly refuse problem.
These are just some of the conversations we must now address in order to continue to improve our City.
Despite all the potential problems faced by Gardner and other cities, we still have many blessing to count as we begin 2010.
The soon to be completed Urban Renewal Plan;
The redevelopment of former mill and factory sites;
The continued revitalization of our downtown business district;
The completion and opening of the former Goodnow’s Department Store building and the potential of a new eatery occupying the first floor;
The expansion of Heywood Hospital;
The continued leadership of Mount Wachusett Community College;
The City’s 225th Anniversary this June.
These are all part of our blessings.
We know that we can accomplish great things, even in a time of fiscal limits and pressures.
Gardner is a great city, and we know how to make it even greater.
Our work continues, our hopes remain high, and we will not rest until our vision is fulfilled.
Thank you.
The Gardner High School Band, under the direction of Mr. Douglas Lepisto, performed “Glory to Gardner”.
The Benediction was given by the Reverend David R. Cote.
The Inaugural Exercises adjourned at 10:45 A.M., after which a Public Reception was held at The Gardner Museum, 28 Pearl Street. The Reception was hosted by Museum Trustees Mr. J. Warren and Mrs. Tanya Barnett, under the direction of the Inaugural Committee consisting of Councillors Alice P. Anderson, Ronald F. Cormier, Scott J. Graves, Esq., and Neil W. Janssens.
Accepted by the City Council: 1/19/2010
Date
| 
