Fiscal Year 2024 – What’s Coming for Investments in the Chair City?
The City’s Master Plan for the next 5 years makes it very clear: Gardner is going to continue to improve in a big way. Note that some items are funded directly by local taxpayers, some by state and federal grants, some by enterprise funds, and some are on the list simply so they can legally be funded. We’ll continue to provide more details as they become available in the coming weeks or months.
Investments in Making You safer
The master plan calls for a replacement traffic signal at the intersection of Elm Street and Pearson Boulevard at a cost of $250,000. On the same note, there will be new Traffic Camera systems installed at the intersections of Route 2A and 68, and Dyer Street and 68.
Comfort and Looks
1st floor bathrooms at City Hall get an upgrade fiscal year 2024. 2nd floor bathrooms will have to wait another year. The badly needed upgrade to the main electrical service at City Hall at a cost of $150,000 is slated for the upcoming fiscal year as well.
Coming down and going up
The Indoor pool will be demolished and replaced by an outdoor pavilion. However, the full expansion of the outdoor pool complex is projected for fiscal year 2026. Other non-specific demolition is scheduled in each of the next 3 fiscal years and totals $1.6 million. $1.3 million in Downtown infrastructure improvements are planned in the next couple of years. Millions are planned for “Recreation Center/ Boys and Girls Club”, the Bike Path, Route 140 Business Park Planning/Acquisition, MVP Implementation, and Open Space and Recreation including Bailey Brook and Maki Park with some parts to be completed by a couple of years or so from now.
Engineering Department
Planned for the upcoming fiscal year are $1.5 million in dam repairs, $2,000,000 in structural repairs to the Mill Street Bridge. Funding for TIP List Roadway Design is spread over the next 4 fiscal years.
Fire Department Needs
The Fire Department’s major urgent need is the $500,000 repair to the roof at the Headquarters Building. On the plan for Fiscal Year 2025 is building an addition to the headquarters which would cost $5,000,000 and a stand alone 3 bay garage at a cost of $300,000. It is hoped that much of this could be covered by some grants which have yet to be implemented by the State in a similar proposal to how school buildings are funded.
The City is proactively planning for future truck replacements in phases, including Tower 1 in 2 years, Engine 1 in 3 years, rescue 3 in 4 years. In other improvements, portable radios and associated costs for the Building at Reservoir Hill come in a total of $400,000 for fiscal 2024.
Also this year: $200k to replace equipment at the golf course, $80k to replace network switches,
Public Works plans
The biggest item on the list is paving with a planned expenditure of $1 million dollars in each of the next 5 fiscal years. The attached plan details a long list of work, equipment, and buildings for Public Works with over 20 items listed.
Police Department
Funds are listed for the next couple of fiscal years to add a galley and to complete original construction totaling $545k
Sewer and Water
Under the Sewer Enterprise account, there are nearly $17 million in expenses planned in the next 2 fiscal years. Under Water Enterprise, nearly $18 million in expenses in the next 3 fiscal years.
School Department
On the plan of course is the new Elementary School which has a total price tag of $89 million, with the lion’s share covered by grants. And note that the City timed it so its loan payments for the Elementary School started when the payments for the Middle School ended in 2019 so that property taxes would not be affected by the new school. Other items include athletic fields, roof repairs, auditorium repairs, bathrooms, the concession stand, lighting, science labs, service equipment, intercom system and clocks, keying building, painting, carpeting, ventilation, and more.
For the complete Master Plan, click here.