City of Manchester
Mayor's Office
One City Hall Plaza
Manchester, NH  03101
July 21, 2017
Your Honor:
On June 13, 2017, in a public meeting, Aldermen Normand Gamache, Ward 11, and Ron Ludwig, Ward 2, blatantly violated the City Charter.  At that meeting Aldermen Gamache and Ludwig discussed, debated and voted on the Fact Finder's Report pertaining to the Manchester Fire Department.  That report contained proposed increases in pay for the City's firefighters.  Both Aldermen Gamache and Ludwig have children that work as firefighters in Manchester that stood to benefit from the passage of the proposed salary increases.

Their violation of the Charter is obvious.  Section 9.03(e) of the Charter is unambiguous:  "No city official shall participate in the decision-making process of any matter in which the official or a member of the official's immediate family has a direct personal or financial interest."  The Code of Conduct contained in the Charter is also clear: "Honest government, ethical conduct, the avoidance of conflicts of interest and public perception of ethical and honest conduct of public affairs are essential. This code is adopted to further these purposes."  

Aldermen Gamache and Ludwig have engaged in a course of conduct, a pattern of behavior, of disregarding the City Charter and the oaths they took to uphold it.   In 2015 they also both debated and voted on a contract with the Manchester Education Association while having immediate family members standing to benefit from its passage.

Therefore  I, Lisa Gravel, and the undersigned residents of the City of Manchester, respectfully request that this complaint be forwarded to the Conduct Board immediately. It is clear that until this unethical behavior has reprecussions it will only continue.  Habitual scofflaws that participate in nepotism erode the confidence of the public in its government.

I request to be provided with updates regarding my complaint, I may be reached with the information provided below.

Respectfully,

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