Full Staffing Achieved: The Economic Development department has achieved full staffing with the appointment of a new Assistant Director and Conservation Agent, ending a period of vacancies.
Critical infrastructure milestones and Administrative Updates Focus of the Gardner Economic and Community Development Committee.
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- Waterford Community Center Progress: The project is moving into a technical phase with the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) specializing in asbestos abatement. Solar panel installation remains pending final National Grid sign-off.
- Infrastructure Delays: The Rear Main project is experiencing significant timeline slippage due to utility company delays (National Grid, Comcast, and Verizon) regarding equipment delivery and wire removal, despite the city having prepaid nearly $1 million for services.
- Downtown Revitalization: The Downtown Phase 5 project will trigger a 1.5- to 2.5-month closure of Willow Street for safety and aesthetic improvements, including perpendicular crosswalks.
Waterford Community Center Updates
The Waterford Community Center remains a primary focus of city development, involving multi-layered renovations and energy upgrades.
Solar Roof Project: The city has already purchased solar panels, which are currently stored at Select Energy’s headquarters in Hopkinton, MA.
- Current Status: Construction is awaiting final sign-off from National Grid.
- Timeline: Preliminary estimates suggest construction will begin before the end of 2026.
- Financials: A final document detailing cost-saving breakdowns and the lease signature is expected for the first City Council meeting in October.
Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) Selection: The city is utilizing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to hire an OPM to oversee building renovations, specifically focusing on asbestos removal.
- The RFQ Process: Unlike a Request for Proposals (RFP) which prioritizes price, an RFQ evaluates technical qualifications, education, and experience first.
- Review Committee: The Mayor will appoint a three-member committee to review qualifications independently. To ensure an “honest and transparent” process, members will not collaborate during the evaluation phase.
- Budget: Funding for the OPM is allocated from unexpended bond proceeds. The cost is estimated at approximately 7.5% of the total project cost.
- Dates: The RFQ is scheduled to go live on September 2 and close on September 18.
Asbestos Abatement and Renovation: Tighe and Bond is developing specifications for the abatement project, including floor plans and material identification. This process will run concurrently with the OPM solicitation to allow work to begin approximately two weeks after a contract is awarded.
Facility Tenants and Usage
- GTV (Gardner TV): The station is fully operational in its new Waterford studio. The former studio space at Gardner High School has been renovated for the Gardner Academy.
- Growing Places: Building permits for refrigeration condensers and a backup generator have been approved. Construction of the concrete pad is underway, with expected completion by the end of September.
- Disability Commission: Remains a prospective tenant, though no further movement can occur until physical renovations progress.
- Community Use: The soccer fields were successfully used by a local church group, which has expressed interest in returning next year.
Infrastructure and Downtown Development
Downtown Phase 5 (Willow Street): The city awarded the contract for the Willow Street project to Goodall Construction.
- Scope: Refurbishment of sidewalks and asphalt, and a reorganization of the Willow and Main Street intersection.
- Safety Improvements: Crosswalks will be reconfigured from an angle to a perpendicular orientation to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians.
- Impact: Willow Street will be closed for 1.5 to 2.5 months. Rerouting will be managed by the Police Department.
Rear Main Project Delays: The Rear Main project is facing delays characterized as “frustrating” by city officials due to lack of coordination among National Grid, Comcast, and Verizon.
- Utility Coordination: Delays involve the removal of wires and the delivery of multiple transformers required for underground electrical service.
- City Action: The city paid National Grid $978,000 in March 2026 for this work. The Mayor reported personally hand-delivering easement papers to landowners and the Registry of Deeds to prevent any city-side delays.
- Timeline Status: Originally expected to finish by mid-September, the completion date has been pushed out indefinitely pending a six-week turnaround from National Grid once equipment is received.
Key Quotes
“The roofs were declared surplus for the purpose of leasing to the solar company and that’s how we’re able to do the lease holder improvements for the roof before that lease makes it to the council.” — Mayor Michael Nicholson on the solar project mechanics.
“I want it being known that there are no delays in regards to this project that have been on the fault of the city… we have been knocking on National Grid’s door of where we’ve paid for this already months ago.” — Jason Stevens on the Rear Main project utility delays.
“I think it would just open a lot more transparency and it puts a face to a project and that’s really important.” — Committee Member on including the OPM in future project updates.
