Marlborough council overrides Dumas veto 8-3 on personnel hiring authority

MARLBOROUGH — July 22, 2024 — Marlborough council overrides mayor's veto 8-3 on hiring-authority ordinance. Council President Michael H. Ossing stepped down from the chair to call Mayor J. Christian Dumas's veto letter "one of the biggest pieces of fiction and misleading information" he had seen in 25 years on the council, accusing the mayor of using the deleted Chapter 125 provisions to boost vacation for "his friends." Councilor Kathleen D. Robey presided over the override of Order 24-100-9156A. The council also approved six capital bonds — including $6 million for streets and $2 million for water mains — but postponed a $1 million pool, splash pad and recreation bond to Aug. 19 after Ward 3 Councilor Robert Preciado said Ward Park neighbors oppose replacing the pool with a splash pad. Separately, the council voted 7-4 to strip fixed 9 a.m.-to-10 p.m. hours from the marijuana zoning ordinance, leaving hours to special permits. Vice President Sean A. Navin reported aggregation savings of more than $805,000 in the first quarter under the new First Point Power contract.