Mayor’s Update on last day of March 2023 packed with Important Information
Listen to the Update on any device. CLICK PLAY
Zoning and Properties
Zoning Items include matters coming before the City Council at a Public Hearing Monday April 3, 2023 at 6:30pm involving Regulating Sports Betting, More Cannabis Establishments, and Changing the Route 140 Zoning. See Editorial. See Article re City Council.
Mayor Nicholson separately wrote to the City Council for Monday’s meeting, ““If we as a City want to revitalize our economy, grow our tax base, lessen the tax burden on our residents, provide jobs for those who live here, and provide resources to meet our growing population, then something like this must be done or the City will soon be left behind without reaching its true and full potential” – Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson
Public Safety
Mayor Nicholson advised that no Public Safety issues have arisen with existing Marijuana establishments and a cap of 4 will allow the market to direct itself. ” Since 2019, the city’s collected about $1.5 million in fees from these companies.” In another matter, he stated that the section of Route 140 he wants to restrict from residential development in favor of commercial has had about 193 accidents in the past 10 years with 20 of them resulting in some type of injury. A change to commercial “alleviates those safety concerns for our public safety departments and then allows the City to open itself up to more job creation, more economic growth in an area of the City that’s really underutilized.” Much more in detail in our Article regarding upcoming meeting.
Public Input
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is conducting 2 virtual meetings: One for Fitchburg’s phase 2 of their bike path and the other for the bike path which will eventually go over Route 140. Links on City of Gardner Website. Economic Development Coordinator Jessica DeRoy is conducting an online public survey regarding signage in the City from now through April 10th. To complete the survey, CLICK HERE.
Local Events
It’s past time to register your dog. See the City Clerk’s office. Yard Waste is being collected from April 4 to April 7th. Heywood Hospital has their Surgical Pavilion Topping Off ceremony Wednesday April 6th at 9:30am. Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt is at City Hall Saturday April 8, 2023 from 10am to noon – bring your own basket. Health Resource Fair is April 12, 2023 from 5pm to 8pm at Perry Auditorium. The Flashback Dance is April 22, 2023 from 6:30pm to 10pm at Perry Auditorium. Various business tours are being conducted by Jessica DeRoy.