Jourdain contacted Springfield Republican reporter Mike Plaisance in early March to complain about the attitude of the Retirement Board calling their behavior "Arrogance on Parade". Jourdain said "This is just classic government doing what is convenient to it, not what's convenient to the taxpayers."
Jourdain also filed an order in early March summoning Retirement Board Executive Director Cheryl Dugre and board members to a meeting with City Council to discuss why the board continues to violate the ordinance. Jourdain had previously passed another order saying the Retirement Board will comply with the meeting ordinance.
The only problem with Jourdain's argument is that the Retirement Board is not part of the city charter. It's an independent body formed under Mass General Law with its own charter. The Board also has its own tax id. The City Council has no authority over the Board's budget, it's appointments or payouts. The one exception being that the City Council can give enhanced benefits for retirees from taxpayer funds.
Councilor Jourdain was already informed of these facts by letter from the law offices of Thomas F. Gibson on behalf of PERAC (Massachusetts Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission) and the Holyoke Retirement Board.
Jourdain, himself a lawyer, told Mike Plaisance he would contact Mayor Morse about the Retirement Board's meeting schedule in relation to the 5:00 PM ordinance. If the practice continues, Jourdain said he would contact the state about possible violations of the Open Meeting Law.
Dugre, who by all accounts has been doing a fine job as Executive Director of the Retirement Board is not one to be bullied by Jourdain. She made it clear to Plaisance they are not a municipal board. "We meet in the mornings because it's easier for our constituents to come to meetings. They're retirees, they're not going to come here at night." said Dugre.
In the weeks since Jourdain ordered Dugre to meet after 5:00PM the The Retirement Board has continued to meet early in the day. Most recently on March 23, 2016 at 8:00AM.
There's no word on whether the Retirement Board plans to comply Jourdain's order to meet with the City Council.
