Appointments committee backs local inspector; considers assistant city clerk nomination

The Gardner City Council Appointments Committee on Jan. 29 recommended the confirmation of Scott Chapman as the city’s local inspector and considered the mayor’s nomination of James Kumar to be assistant city clerk.

The committee recommended Chapman’s appointment for a term expiring July 18, 2027, after members and department supervisors praised his work during a probationary period. The mayor and other presenters told the committee Chapman, a retired law-enforcement detective with prior construction experience, began performing inspector duties in August and has shown “a very thorough and firm and fair” approach in interactions with staff and the public.

The recommendation matters because state law requires the council to confirm certain department-level appointments, including the local inspector, before those officials’ appointments are final. The committee’s approval now moves the confirmation to the full City Council for final action.

Committee discussion and praise The mayor told the committee he has been “very happy with the work that he’s been doing,” noting positive reports from both the public and city staff about Chapman’s field demeanor and reports. Commissioner Supa (who directly oversees the position) and another supervising official also spoke in support, saying Chapman’s work ethic, fairness and prior law-enforcement experience have helped him transition into building enforcement.

Chapman introduced himself to the committee, saying he has worked as the local inspector since August and described his prior background in construction and about 15 years in law enforcement. “I was in construction for many, many, many years prior to that,” Chapman said. Committee members and staff recounted that Chapman stepped into busy seasonal duties — including election-related tasks his colleagues described in the clerk’s office testimony — without complaint and as a quick learner.

Assistant city clerk nomination The committee also considered the mayor’s appointment of James Kumar to the assistant city clerk position. Kumar told the committee he has worked in the clerk’s office for about a year to a year and a half and said he is “looking forward to learning more” to serve Gardner residents. Members praised his customer service, noting positive constituent feedback and that Kumar has taken on extra work during busy periods, including the fall election cycle.

Councilor Kuzinski moved to recommend Kumar’s appointment and Councilor Henglund seconded the motion; the transcript for this meeting segment records the motion and second but does not include a recorded vote on that motion in the provided text.

Formal motions and next steps A motion to recommend Chapman’s confirmation was moved on the record during the meeting and the committee chair announced, “Motion passes.” The committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the full City Council for final confirmation, as the committee itself does not make the final appointment.

Minutes and personnel context Speakers also described internal hiring and staffing work in the clerk’s office: Kumar participated in processing resumes and interview scheduling for two administrative coordinator positions; the committee heard that two candidates were selected (one named Jamie Gertzer). Committee members noted the clerk’s office handled a high workload during the October primary and the early voting period.

The committee meeting transcript includes praise for both appointees and notes that the local inspector position is among the roles that state law requires be appointed and confirmed by the city council. The formal recommendation for Chapman passed at the committee level; the committee’s recommendation on Kumar was moved and seconded and will be reported to the full council for a final vote.