City Council Gardner MA

Gardner High School to Feature Haunted House

The Gardner High School Haunted House is Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 5 to 8pm. Admission is $5. There will also be a bake sale and basket raffle. City Councilor Elizabeth Kazinskas spoke of the event during the Gardner City Council Meeting. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.

Councilor Judy Mack spoke of an event earlier in the day for younger children, the Pumpkin Palooza. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.

The Pumpkin Palooza is Saturday, October 25^th from 9am to noon at the Gardner High School gym. There will be games, a bouncy house, arts and crafts, raffles, and a bake sale.

The Gardner City Council unanimously approved a Single Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2026.

Gardner to have Single Tax Rate Once Again

The Gardner City Council met on October 20, 2025. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

A major focus of the meeting was the FY2026 tax classification hearing, where the Mayor and the Board of Assessors successfully advocated for continuing a single tax rate (factor of one) across all property classifications to encourage commercial growth. The measure was approved unanimously. A single tax rate means that all property in the City is taxed at the same rate.

Tthe Council addressed a series of Mayoral appointments to various boards and positions, including the Redevelopment Authority and the Industrial Development Finance Authority, confirming several individuals like Jonathan Zlotnik and Judy Mack. The meeting included comprehensive departmental updates from the Safety Committee, highlighting staffing shortages in the Health Department and Police Department, but noting full staffing in the Fire Department and progress on infrastructure projects. Finally, the Council handled several routine motions, including adopting a measure for the upcoming City election*and confirming the status of various financial certifications.

Ad Hoc Compensation Proposal Committee Holds Half Hour Meeting

Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

The meeting begins by addressing a new legal opinion that restricts the discussion of salaries for certain department heads because a collective bargaining process is underway for some positions, though specific department heads like the Police Chief and City Clerk are still in scope. Committee members then discuss the need for detailed financial data to determine the affordability of any proposed salary increases, emphasizing the necessity of clarifying cost projections and the calculation method to ensure the city can fund the changes without raising taxes or cutting services. The conversation further explores establishing a salary structure using grades and steps, reviewing comparable data from other municipalities, and considering whether to tie compensation increases to longevity rather than performance reviews to maintain objectivity and predictability in budgeting.

Public Safety Committee 10-17-25

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Public Welfare Committee 10-16-25

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4 October Meetings 10-14-25

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Gardner City Council Meeting Features a Report by Councilor Brad Heglin on Waterford

According to City Councilor Brad Heglin, the Waterford Improvements are being done correctly. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.

Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

Key actions included the swearing-in of four new firefighters and numerous appointments to various municipal commissions, such as the Airport and Cemetery Commissions. Council members addressed several financial and operational matters, including approving transfers for the Building Department and discussing the supplemental budget and a large borrowing measure for Middle School roof repairs. The meeting also featured extensive updates on community development projects, including the youth center, the Waterford Community Center’s ongoing renovations, the status of the Main Street project, and the timeline for the Maki Park accessibility upgrades.