City officials' debate unabated.

Byline: George Barnes

GARDNER - The Nov. 3 election has done little to quiet the ongoing disputes at Finance Committee meetings between a city councilor and the mayor.

For several months, Mayor Mark P. Hawke and City Councilor Kim Dembrosky have been at odds over financial issues, especially the reorganization of City Hall. Mr. Hawke was re-elected in the city election. Mrs. Dembrosky was not, but remains in office until the end of the year.

At the Finance Committee meeting yesterday morning it was clear the debates between the mayor and Mrs. Dembrosky would continue. In looking at budget projections presented by the mayor, she said she is still not happy with the changes being made to convert the city from a city clerk/collector to having a treasurer/collector. The changes were proposed this summer after City Clerk Kathleen M. Lesneski retired and was replaced by City Clerk Alan L. Agnelli.

"How it was done is a little misleading," she said of the reorganization. "I don't think it accurately reflects the cost of the reorganization."

Mrs. Dembrosky said the changes were presented as having no financial impact, but would cost $19,000 in benefits next year and $23,000 the year after.

The mayor took exception to her saying it was misleading and said with payroll cost of $1.8 million for City Hall alone, the amount of money for the changed position was minimal.

But Mrs. Dembrosky said the City Council needs to be able to rely on accurate information from the mayor when it is making decisions.

"Government is set up with checks and balances and we don't have them now," she said.

The mayor said she was calling him a liar and she was also insulting department heads who provided him with information.

Mrs. Dembrosky raised several other issues where she felt the mayor did not provide accurate information on an issue, or information that reflected changes from what the Finance Committee originally acted on. She said one issue was how long City Hall employees would have for lunch on Fridays.

The city closed City Halls on Fridays earlier in the year, but later changed that policy and now opens the building for a half day on Fridays. According to Mrs. Dembrosky, the mayor said city employees would be paid for a half-hour lunch, but some get 45 minutes or more.

"It was clearly not a half hour," she said.

The mayor said the lunch hours were the result of bargaining. At that point Council President Neil Janssens drew a line, saying the Finance Committee was not responsible for managing offices in City Hall.

"I don't want to micromanage this place," he said.

NAME: GARDNER CITY COUNCIL