Finance committee meetings are renowned for being lengthy and Monday’s meeting was anticipated to have a larger agenda than usual since the council meets only once in August. The committee convenes at 5 p.m., a full two hours before the Council meeting. The intention is for all council committees to conduct their business and have recommendations to the council by 7.

It’s a worthy plan although hardly realistic given the volume of bids requiring council approval. By City Charter the council is to approve all appropriations over $2,500 even though most municipalities have a threshold of $10,000. To expedite the process that frequently calls upon department director or a representative to explain his or her recommendation for the purchase, the council lumps all bids under $25,000 in a consent calendar. The council and the public have the right to request discussion on any item, but generally the consent calendar passes without discussion.

That didn’t happen Monday.

When it came to the consent calendar, Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur observed that the calendar contained 33 bids with a total value of $280,000. He said taxpayers “have a right to know” where their money is being spent and called for suspension of the rules so each bid would be individually reviewed. He was egged on by a scattering of applause from the meager attendance.  Committee Chair Tim Howe objected observing how the exercise would prolong the meeting and that any bid could be questioned anyway.

“We were elected by the taxpayers to do our job and I think we’re doing our job,” said Howe.

Ladouceur countered that the consent calendar gives the appearance of “rubber stamping.” That lit the fuse.

“What you’re saying is that we’re rubberstamping,” retorted Howe who went on to defend the committee’s diligence. 

Ladouceur stuck to his guns, starting at the top of the list and working down. After voting on only a handful of bids over a half hour, Ladouceur concluded in the sake of time to be selective.

That’s when things got prickly.

Howe brought up rubberstamping, saying he would go through the bids one by one. At 7 p.m. Council President Steve McAllister put the Finance Committee on hold to convene the Council meeting and as practice following the pledge of allegiance, general communication and introductions he went back to committee meetings.

One by one the committee considered each bid.

It tested some observers including Mayor Frank Picozzi who was watching the live stream from home.  He said that unlike other council members, Ladouceur doesn’t ask questions of directors prior to the meeting. He noted if he did, directors would be prepared to answer them and the meeting wouldn’t drag on.