Gardner MA

Gardner MA Local News and Community Information

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• Maki Park 5-7-24

  

  Construction Fencing Goes Up Around what will be Maki Park

  From a grassy field of green at the location of the torn-down Maki Building to the promise of a new Maki Park in the near future, the next step was taken this week as temporary construction fencing surrounds the rectangular area.

  The Concept Drawing shows a three-tier terraced park with each section fulfilling different recreational needs including plans for a Bandstand and cornhole play. Because the land is at more than a 15 degree angle, it could not be left flat due to ADA requirements.

  More than one year ago, the Gardner City Council allocated almost $200,000 for the project. Another part of the plan is to put in electricity which would allow for electric vehicle charging in the nearby parking lot.

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• Timpany 5-7-24

  

  Progress at Gardner MA Timpany Plaza Continues

  Grocery Store Aldi opened in Timpany Plaza in April 2024. The construction crew immediately moved over to its next project, the location leased by Five Below for its new Gardner MA location. Completion is projected to be within several months.

  With the former Santander Bank building completely gone, the new Chiptotle Mexican Grill is well under way. Shown in the top photo is the start of the framing for the building. An interesting tidbit for those interested in Chipotle: They claim to use 53 ingredients you can actually pronounce. Visit their website, CLICK HERE.

  Timpany Plaza still has room for other new tenants. It is home to some popular businesses including Gardner Cinemas which upgraded to luxury reclining seats over a year ago. Get your movie times right here, Website.

  Previous article showing available locations in Timpany Plaza, CLICK HERE.

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• School Update

  

  Article on the April School Committee Budget Meeting, CLICK HERE.

  School Committee OK doing Voice Vote on Budget

  In our article about the last School Committee meeting, we questioned the vote as it was not a roll call vote as the Mayor did last year. However, Mayor Nicholson has kindly informed us that only a voice vote is actually required, “The General Laws of the Commonwealth only require roll call votes on specific votes- mainly on borrowing loans or on appropriations (the final vote to actually spend money on something). Since the vote of the School Committee is technically to send their final recommendation to the City Council for their vote on the appropriation, this could be done by a simple voice vote, but the City Council’s vote must be done via a roll call vote.” However, according to City Solicitor John Flick, a roll call vote can be requested at any time by 2/3 of the members of the committee.

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• Council Results 5-6-24

  

  Agenda and Packet, CLICK HERE. – The discussions within this meeting are very informative. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.

  Gardner MA City Council Makes Decisions in Informal and Regular Meeting

  The Gardner MA City Council held an Informal meeting on: (1) Increasing room occupancy tax from 4 to 6 percent (2) adding Local .75% sales tax on meals and (3) resolving to review the Zoning Map. Listen to the combined AUDIO of both meetings on any device, CLICK PLAY.

  It was noted that Leominster increased its room tax to 6% in 2017 and Fitchburg did so last month. Here’s how Gardner voted: At the regular City Council meeting, the room occupancy tax increase to 6% was approved unanimously. It is estimated this will bring in about $50k per year. The Sales Tax on meals at the rate of .75% was approved on a vote of 10 to 1. It is estimated this will bring in $500k per year. A resolution was adopted to review the Zoning Map. Mayor Nicholson earlier in the meeting had told the Council that grant funding was being sought as cost could be around $150,000 and given the time involved the State recommends an outside firm do the job.

  In other matters, the Open Meeting Law finding was placed on file. Other items including the big budget items were referred to either subcommittees or the Council as a Committee of the whole.

  Open Meeting Law Matter – Inaccurate Statements by Paul DeMeo

  Listen to what was actually stated by Councilor Alek Dernalowicz at the City Council Meeting on any device. CLICK PLAY

  Councilor Alek Dernalowicz actually stated, “I just wanted to quickly point out that the complaints, the items listed in the complaint were not found to be in violation. There was a finding that we failed to review the minutes in a reasonable interval, which is how it’s stated in the Mass General Laws. Even the Attorney General has difficulty, it seems, defining what a reasonable interval is in their ruling. At one point, they say it’s a certain set of months, and at another point, they say a different amount. I think, in reality, it could possibly turn on what the executive session was about, but that being said, we will follow the guidance from the Attorney General and do this as they prescribe going forward.” While Councilor Dernalowicz clearly states (words in bold) that the City Council will follow guidance of the Attorney General, Paul DeMeo in a post inaccurately states “he should have cautioned the city council to comply with the law.” – an inaccurate statement because that is exactly what he did do. Publisher’s Editorial Note: DeMeo also makes other disparaging remarks which we won’t dignify by repeating here. As Paul DeMeo had made the original complaint, we can understand why he reacted negatively, but that is no excuse for making inaccurate statements simply to disparage an effective, honest, and hard-working City Councilor. Once again, Pauly Potato is simply wrong and the AUDIO above proves it. Further comment regarding DeMeo: Gardner is not a dystopia. Gardner’s officials and employees are hard-working, honest people leading the Chair City on an effective trajectory of success. When a City like Gardner is held in high esteem by other municipalities often as the “Gold Standard” of how things should be done (including its transparency), it is very odd when negative comments often appear out of nowhere with no foundation in fact.

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• City Council 5-6-24

  

  Regular Meeting Agenda and Packet, CLICK HERE.

  Gardner Regular City Council Meeting for May 6, 2024

  The regular City Council meeting on 5-6-24 will concern various aspects and complete details of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. Previous article with pdf of budget, CLICK HERE.

  Other proposed items include an ordinance to change the fee for solid waste collection and an ordinance to increase the number of Zoning Board of Appeals members from 3 to 5. ZBA decisions now require a unanimous vote. With the change a majority vote would be the new threshold.

  OPEN MEETING LAW. Once again, a ruling from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office regarding an Open Meeting Law complaint by Paul DeMeo resulted in a technical violation finding but no action. According to the Attorney General, the Gardner City Council is required to review Executive Session minutes at regular intervals to determine if secrecy is still needed, but they do not have to do so in a timely manner as was alleged by DeMeo – the “timely manner’ requirement is for the public portion of meetings only.

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• Gardner Quarter

  

  Informal City Council Agenda for May 6, 2024, CLICK HERE.

  What Could a Quarter Mean in Gardner MA?

  Gardner Mayor Nicholson is proposing the City adopt a .75% tax on lodging and meals. This would mean a $30.00 restaurant bill would increase by 23 cents to $31.23, a minimal increase of about a quarter. What does that mean in terms of revenue? In the United States, the average American spends $3639 eating out each year, roughly $300 each month. Therefore, The City of Gardner would collect about $2.30 per person per month. Multiply it out and you have a 5 figure sum in the course of a year. Add the amount Gardner would collect in lodging tax revenue and it really could add up to enough to restore a supplemental paving budget. Who says quarters here and there can’t add up to a bundle of money?

  The Gardner City Council is having an informal meeting on these items on 5-6-24 as well as reviewing the Gardner Zoning map for accuracy.

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• Beautiful 5-4-24

  

  Keep Gardner Beautiful Cleans Up City

  On Saturday May 4, 2024, Keep Gardner Beautiful Volunteers led by Diane “Neon” Leblanc cleaned up trash and collected nips in the Chair City. Citizens met at the Gardner Transfer station to begin the cleanup and again there at noon. Local participating officials included Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson, State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik, and City Councilor Calvin Brooks

  According to Keep Gardner Beautiful, their were 70 bags of nips collected with 400 nips per bag. At 5 cents each for a total of 28,000 nips, a total of $1,400 was raised via a donation from Anthony’s Liquor Mart. The proceeds will benefit 2 year old Henry “Hank” Roy of Gardner who has a rare kidney disorder.

  Diane Leblanc posted, “My profound gratitude for these incredible photos that captured the essence of the love and pride that these amazing volunteers spread throughout our community today – Neon”

  Gardner Mayor Nicholson commented live from the transfer station on WGAW’s Saturday Hotline Radio program: “The Keep Gardner Beautiful Committee had a tremendous turnout at its new location over at the transfer station….almost a full dumpster of trash collected, several mattresses and other items of furniture that were left on the street.” The Mayor explained that a brand new storage container had been purchased to stay at the landfill. It will hold trash pickup devices and equipment.

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• Airport 5-1-24

  

  Gardner Airport Commission Holds Wingy Meeting

  Various discussions were conducted in a sit-anywhere format with a huge amount of interesting information about significant airport progress. See Photo. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.

  Some of the matters which came up at the meeting included: MassDOT offered to do a reconstruction of the main apron…”there’s no local share, no cost to the airport, no cost to the city.” Underruns from the runway project will be used to fund the AT&T survey. Fence repairs will be done by Rainmaker.

  Various other aspects of ongoing airport work were discussed including requirements of the FAA with respect to the Gardner Airport Master Plan.

  Recommendation was to maintain the runway length of 3,000 feet. It was stated that 3,400 feet is approximate for small aircraft. However, it was stated, “Just really achieving what you would need to achieve between actual pavement, runway safety areas, acquisition of easements, airspace easements, tree clearing, everything that would go along with that. There’s a lot of terrain issues already, you know, as far as instructions are concerned. So, it just, you know, it just doesn’t seem like feasible. It doesn’t seem feasible to recommend adding runway length.” Many other items related to the airport were discussed at the lengthy meeting.

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• Gunshots 5-3-24

  Gunshots on Sherman Street

  In a Press Release from the Gardner Police Department on May 3, 2024, the Gardner PD referenced an incident on Sherman Street in Gardner which discovered bullet holes in a vehicle and a house. “Approximately 7 am this morning, the Gardner Police Department received 911 calls for what was believed to be gunshots in the area of 102 Sherman St. Officers were dispatched and located a total of 3 bullet holes in a nearby vehicle and siding of an adjacent house. There were no injuries involved in this incident and it is currently being investigated by the Gardner Police Department.” Press Release, CLICK HERE.

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• Handle with Care

  

  Handle with Care Conference in Gardner a Successful Cooperative Effort

  May began with the 1st Annual Handle with Care Conference held at Gardner City Hall. Gardner PD stated, “Proud to say the 1st Annual Handle with Care Conference was a success! Our partnership with Heywood Hospital, the Montachusett Suicide Prevention Task Force, and our other collaborators helped promote this important school-community-based effort to support children exposed to trauma.” If you would like to learn more about the Handle with Care Initiative, click this link.

  Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early’s office provided further information, “It was an honor to attend the North Central – North Quabbin 1st Annual Handle with Care Conference yesterday at Gardner City Hall, hosted by Gardner Police Department, Heywood Hospital and the Montachusett Suicide Prevention Task Force. This event featured Keynote Speaker Professor Heather C. Forkey of UMass Chan Medical School, Sue from our Outreach Team, JBS International, Inc.’s Edward Jacoubs, Anna Maria College Professor Tara Rivera, Fitchburg State University Professor Kyle Moody and special guest Bill Gardiner of L.O.V.E Is The Answer. Thank you for a fantastic conference!”

  The Handle with Care Collaborative Partners of North Central and North Quabbin Massachusetts is a lengthy list of schools, agencies, government, and non-profit including: Ashburnham-Westminster School District, Ashburnham Police Department, Athol Area YMCA, Athol Police Department, Athol-Royalston School District, Barre Police Department, Boys & Girls Club – Gardner, Leominster/Fitchburg, CAPS Collaborative (Ashburnham, Orange, Westminster), Clinical Support & Options, Gardner Police Department, Gardner Public Schools, Heywood Healthcare, Holy Family Academy, Mahar Regional School District, MOC Early Education, Mount Wachusett Community College, Narragansett Regional School District, North Quabbin Community Coalition, Northwestern County District Attorney, David E. Sullivan’s Office, Parent Professional Advocacy League, Petersham Police Department, Phillipston Police Department,Quabbin Regional School District, Royalston Police Department, Templeton Police Department, Orange Police Department, Westminster Police Department, Winchendon Police Department, Winchendon Public Schools, and Worcester County District Attorney, Joseph Early’s Office

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