NA City Council Contemplates Changing Meeting Time to 6 p.m.

City Councilor Wayne Wilkinson is pushing for a 6 p.m. start to the bi-monthly council meetings.

The Berkshire Eagle reports Wilkinson's proposal is on the agenda for next week's City Council meeting — which begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall. The session has been pushed back a day because Christmas is Tuesday, the typical meeting day.

The 7:30 p.m. start time is actually written into city ordinance, which explicitly states that meetings will be held "at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, except when one of such Tuesdays falls on a legal holiday or election day."

The tradition dates back at least 50 years, and it's unclear exactly why 7:30 p.m. was chosen.

The council is unusual in beginning its meetings so late.

The council has considered changing the start time previously, according to council President Keith Bona, the longest-serving current councilor.

Bona said he likes a later start time — which allows space for dinner with family or committee meetings to be scheduled directly prior to council meetings — but would be willing to compromise.

City Clerk Marilyn Gomeau said she sees no downside to starting the council meetings earlier.