NASHUA – A day after aldermen weighed several charter amendments that would force all elected boards to meet at night, the board opted for a less drastic measure to get the Board of Public Works to move its 2 p.m. meetings to the evening, writing a letter saying it is their “fervent hope” commissioners will reconsider nighttime sessions.
Aldermen voted 14-0 on Tuesday to allow public works liaison Alderman-at-Large Mark Cookson to offer the Board of Public Works the aldermen’s policy on meetings for elected boards.
“In the interests of transparency and accessibility of government, all routine meetings of elected boards should be held in the evening hours when a maximum number of citizens can attend such meetings,” board President Brian McCarthy wrote in a letter quoting the policy, “or for that matter be able to pursue elected office on such boards.”
The public works panel has faced criticism in recent months from residents and board member Tracy Pappas, who say the board’s midafternoon meeting time limits public participation in the meetings and interest from residents in serving on the board. The Board of Public Works, chaired by Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, oversees infrastructure projects worth millions, including the Broad Street Parkway and the replacement of Main Street sidewalks.
The board meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at Division of Public Works headquarters at 9 Riverside St. at 2 p.m., after changing its meeting time in 2012 from 3:45 p.m.![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧