Finance committee recommends plaque honoring Ronald F. Cormier, declines council chamber renaming

The Gardner City Council Finance Committee on March 12 received a report from the Ronald F. Cormier Memorial Committee recommending placement of a commemorative plaque for former Councilor Ronald F. Cormier and declining, at the family’s request, to rename the council chamber in his honor.

Penny James Balsch, chair of the Ronald F. Cormier Memorial Committee, told the committee, “The committee recommended, we met on 3 occasions, voted on the style.” She said the committee voted to place a plaque and not to name the council chamber, describing that decision as made “in deference primarily to the wishes of the family.”

Committee members thanked the volunteers and the committee for the work and design. Councilor Mack moved to keep the item on the Finance Committee agenda for further work on procurement and cost; there was no recorded objection and the chair confirmed the item “will remain on our calendar.” The committee asked the purchasing director to obtain cost estimates; Councilor Mack said he had researched bronze plaque pricing and estimated roughly $4,000.

The report appended a proposed plaque text; the committee chair said the version in the packet did not match the committee’s voted formatting and that she provided three copies of the corrected layout. The committee did not set a final budget or size and left those decisions to follow-up procurement and the mayor’s office. The committee did not take a final vote to place or purchase a plaque; it retained the matter for a future packet with cost estimates and final wording.

The item will return to the Finance Committee once the purchasing director and the mayor provide price and procurement information so that the committee can forward a final recommendation to the full council if appropriate.