City council members are at odds over the process at the hearing for a new property tax plan

But during a hearing on the compromise measure Tuesday, at least three council members expressed frustration that the city council is under pressure pressure to fast-track the policy, while others claimed they have had months to express their views on the issue, which significant potential impact on vulnerable homeowners.

Councilman Ed Flynn, who A procedural maneuver was used last week to block the council from immediately advancing the proposal to the committee, defended his actions. The council could still advance the measure at a special emergency meeting last Friday, and schedule a hearing for Tuesday.

“I am convinced that no matter how tight the deadlines are, we cannot live the values ​​of transparency only when it suits us,” Flynn said. “It didn’t have to be this messy in pitting residents against businesses, or public disagreements with the state and business; we should have listened to fiscal watchdog groups and experts months ago to make compromises.”

Flynn has spoken out against several of the mayor’s initiatives this year and is rumored to be considering challenging her for next year’s mayor.

Councilwoman Erin Murphy also expressed concern that the City Council was not included in negotiations on the compromise proposal.

“I’m afraid that because we know this body has the votes to approve anything the mayor sends our way, we’ll pass with little to no conversation and input into the process,” Murphy said.

But several council members, including Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, pushed back. They said it was months of discussions after the mayor first announced her original tax proposal at the end of March.

“This is obviously the second time this council has spoken about this House Rules petition, and previously we held hearings and a work session,” Louijeune said. “We want to avoid a significant tax increase that our residents, especially our seniors living on fixed incomes, would experience, and this helps us get there.”

Marty Walz, who testified at Tuesday’s City Council hearing in her capacity as interim president of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, a budget watchdog involved in negotiations with the mayor over the policy, also disputed that the process was “secret” or was ‘private’. She said Tuesday’s hearing was the fourth the body has held on the subject, and pointed to it a separate hearing in the State House on the proposalas well as several public communications between the parties on the issue.

“There are many things that can be said about this process, but a lack of public discussion is not one of them,” said Walz, a former state representative. “This is what governing looks like. . . . There are proposals, there are counter-proposals, and there is a lot of discussion, some of which is of course taking place outside the public eye, as stakeholders try to find common ground, as we have been asked to do, and as we should do. ”

The City Council is expected to vote on the proposal at its next regular meeting on Wednesday.

Niki Griswold can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @nikigriswold.