For additional details and impacts, view the additional infographics below on the Public Welfare Committee meeting of May 28, 2026
Just CLICK on the IMAGE for a larger view.
Golf Course, Senior Center, Library, Greenwood Pool Focus of Public Welfare Committee
The Gardner Public Welfare Committee met on May 28, 2026. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
The central theme this year: balance rising operational costs, specifically in utilities and maintenance against conservative revenue projections.
Multiple departments including the Council on Aging and the Library are grappling with aging infrastructure and unexpected repair costs such as the Library’s “end of life” HVAC system and the Senior Center’s disintegrated heating manifold. Energy costs have surged with some departments reporting a 24% increase in specific utility accounts. The Gardner Municipal Golf Course continues to operate as a robust “small business” within Gardner, maintaining a surplus of over $1 million and high membership numbers. While the Library has successfully increased its hours to the state recommended 50 hours per week and seen a 2.5 times increase in teen participation, funding for additional staff hours remains a point of negotiation. A proposal is pending to transfer oversight of the Greenwood Memorial Pool from the HR Director to the Youth Center Director.
