Gardner MA

Gardner MA Local News and Community Information

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• This Week 8-8-25

  

  Our Weekly News Magazine: “This Week in the Chair City” for Friday August 8, 2025

  Listen to This Week in the Chair City, August 8, 2025 edition on any device,, CLICK PLAY.

  12th Annual Greater Gardner National Night Out — Industry in Gardner — Chapter 90 Funds and Paving — DPW Work in the City — Leaky Plumbing — Greenwood Pool Repairs — Summer Concert Series — – MART meeting — Lifeline program concerns — Hazard Mitigation Plan — Getting Ready for School — City Job Openings — Deep Dive podcasts — Original Songs — Upcoming Meetings in the City.

  Contact Gardner Magazine via News@GardnerMagazine.com or leave a voicemail at (978) 632-6324

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• Airport August ’25

  

  Airport Commission Meets to Hear Updates and Discuss Possibilities

  The Gardner Airport Commission met on August 6, 2025 and heard updates from Gale Associates and from the Airport Manager. Various issues were discussed. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

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• National Night Out Photos 8-7-25

  

  Greater Gardner National Night Out a Big Success

  The 12th Annual Greater Gardner National Night out was held on Thursday, August 7, 2025 at Gardner High School. The FREE event was attended by hundreds of people. This year the weather cooperated.

  

  Event was sponsored by the Greater Gardner Community Action Committee and the City of Gardner. The aim of the event is to increase awareness of crime and drug abuse prevention within the Greater Gardner area.  The food was FREE to the public and there were many FREE activities. Dozens of vendors participated.

  

  The Gardner Fire Department was at National Night Out with adorable comfort dog Sully. Sully brightens every day just as he did with this boy who is looking at Sully’s adorable eyes. (and his big snout). Area fire and police departments interact with the community every year at National Night Out.

  

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• Interacting with Gardner

  

  Visit the City of Gardner website and interact depending on your needs, CLICK HERE.

  Interacting with the City – Gardner Makes It Easier All the Time

  The City of Gardner provides information to the public via the transparency of YouTube videos of meetings, complete agendas, and complete documents. When YOU want to contact the City of Gardner, there are many options.

  Contact an official or Department: The General Form Center page makes it easy to send comments or questions to the Mayor or City Council, send general comments, or send specific inquiries to or about voter registration, community development and planning, certificates or marriage licenses, conservation, illegal dumping, town maps and property maps, property assessments – abatements – exemptions, motor vehicle excise bills and payments, zoning bylaws, building permits, veterans affairs, transfer station – recycling and fees, or DPW matters. It’s simple, just fill in the form right here.

  

  Here are some helpful City of Gardner page links for specific things: Building Permits — Dog Licenses — Driveway Permits — Motor Vehicle Excise — Documents and Forms — Police Public Records Request — Yard Sale Permit — Pay Bills and Taxes —Report a Broken Parking Meter — Report a Pothole – the Pothole Portal — Missed Trash, Recycling — Broken Streetlight — City Electric Program — Sign up for Code Red. —- Election and Voting Information —- Telephone Directory —- Visit the City of Gardner website. Call the Mayor’s Office at (978) 630-1490. Email Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson: Mayor@gardner-ma.gov

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• Chapter 90 Influx

  

  $1.1 Million in Chapter 90 Funds to give Paving a boost in Gardner MA

  For a number of years, the City of Gardner MA has received $600,000 from the State towards paving. The number is usually finalized in April, making scheduling paving a bit easier. However, this year, the number just came in, but at a higher level of $1.1 million. DPW Director Dane Arnold indicated that the City will try to get as much paving done as possible this year.

  Good News: If ALL Money Not Spent – It Rolls Over

  However there’s good news if all the money is not spent. Dane Arnold told us “We get to roll the funds over to next year. We have a real good relationship with our paving vendor, Mass Broken Stone, so we may be ok. It’s actually a 10 year contract with the State so in theory, we could save it for 10 years and spend $10+ million in FY36. I don’t think that would make a lot of people happy though.” So whatever doesn’t get done now will get added to the Spring paving schedule.

  Meanwhile, DPW is busy anyway. Here’s an overview of what other work is going on

  In other DPW matters, there’s more good news for users of Pulaski Playground as more improvements are in the works by Municipal Grounds Staff including new rubber mulch ordered for both playground areas, walkways are getting redone where they were uneven, and some of the playground equipment is getting replaced (some tunnel sections, chains, and bridge needs to be replaced) —- Salt Shed Foundation is currently being installed by Department of Public Works Staff —- Elizabeth Street Water Main is being replaced in-house by Water Department Staff. Water Main is in and passed the pressure test. Once Bacteria Sample passes, we can connect to Water System (this is standard practice with new mains). Water Services to homes will be completed in the next few weeks. Stephanie Drive: Concrete Handicap Ramps completed. Asphalt Curbing to be done soon. Install new sidewalks. Paving top course in a few weeks. Green St from Rotary to a little beyond Bertha Ave to be resurfaced. This includes new asphalt berms and sidewalks where the sidewalks were located originally. New Concrete Handicap Ramps at intersections. — Paving of Heywood St from the Crystal Lake Water Treatment Facility to Green Street. — Paving Beech Street including new asphalt berms and sidewalks. —-Cross Street from Pine St to Chestnut St Project includes new concrete handicap ramps at intersections, milling of the road and resurfacing. Sidewalks will remain as-is (unless we find a large deficiency in areas)

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• Assessors 8-6-25

  

  Another Exciting Board of Assessors Meeting Held by the Ladies on August 6th

  The Gardner Board of Assessors composed of Assessor Christine Kumar and member Paulette Burns met on August 6, 2025. Motor vehicle excise abatements were signed. Listen to the meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

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• Public Service

  

  Excessive Water Use by Various Properties Brings Owners In and Leads to Discussion.

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

  AUDIO cuts off because Video ended abruptly.

  The faucet drips. The toilet leaks. Or there’s another leak. The water bill comes and the much larger bill is a surprise. Most of the time, the ratepayer will be faced with paying the high bill, but it’s worth checking with the Public Service Committee. For example, if a leak does not cause extra sewage usage, the sewer portion may be abated. In any case, more time may be given to pay the bill.

  At a Public Service Committee meeting of July 31, 2025, there were 8 properties listed. A few came in to talk to the committee. Details below:

  A homeowner came in for a water bill abatement after having his property thoroughly evaluated by a 3^rd party. DPW Director Dane Arnold suggested the homeowner have the Water Dept. go back to the house to take a look at what the potential problem is and then come back to a subsequent Public Service Committee meeting. The homeowner questioned the amount of the water shown as being used. — A representative for 25 Main Street had a request for water service which was quickly approved. — Another person came in with a $6500 water bill at a childcare facility the 123 Grown Center at 838 West Broadway in Gardner. Ratepayer was complaining that there was no immediate notification of high usage. Director Dane Arnold said there was still an issue with the property as shown by recent reading. Ratepayer is responsible usage. Recommendation was for a plumber to take a look at the property.

  
  There was a short discussion on accessory dwelling units. Dane Arnold and Rob Oliva recommended a policy that separate water and sewer be established for an accessory dwelling unit to avoid potential issues.

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• Greenwood Pool Closed

  

  200 Pound Motor Sidelines Greenwood Pool Until Repairs are Completed.

  The Gardner MA Greenwood Pool will be closed until further notice for repairs.

  Gardner City Hall posted: “Greenwood Pool closed until further notice for repairs”

  Jessica Francis, Head Lifeguard and Certified Pool Operator told us that: “The motor from the filter pump needed to be repaired. It has been taken out to be worked on in the shop. Pool will reopen when pump is repaired and reinstalled. It is about 2-3 feet wide and a couple hundred pounds. Royal Steam Heater pulled out the pump and Morse Electric is repairing the motor.”

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• Concert 8-9

  

  Summer Concert Series Featuring “The Long Run” playing Eagles classics

  Saturday August 9, 2025 from 6-8pm, the stage at Monument Park will be transformed in to a trip down memory lane from decades ago with the Central Massachusetts band, “The Long Run”. The Band plays music of the Eagles and is made up of: RICK BARRETT – guitars, keyboards, vocals – CARL BONGIOVI – bass – KATHY FINN – keyboards, vocals – GLENN JACKSON – guitars, vocals – DAN KIROUAC – drums, vocals.

  Gardner Magazine has a really cool Deep Dive podcast for you all about the Eagles. Listen on any device, CLICK PLAY.

  ADMISSION IS FREE!

• Council 8-4-25

  

  Informal Meeting Agenda and Packet, CLICK HERE

  Regular Meeting Agenda and Packet, CLICK HERE

  For previous City Council meetings, visit our Gardner City Council page, CLICK HERE.

  Informal meeting with MART and Regular Meeting

  Because of the absence of Council President Tyros, Alek Dernalowicz was elected Council President Pro Tem for each of the meetings. The Gardner MA City Council met in an informal session with representatives from MART. The meeting had been requested by Councilor Karen Hardern who had voiced concerns about ridership and safety. Following a presentation by MART, there was a complete question and answer session. Our AUDIO has the complete meeting. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.

  Charts focused on ridership data and after hours services data. If you wish to view the charts spoken about during the presentation, the Youtube video is your best source. Gardner City Councilors asked questions about routes, safety, and customer frustration when the bus leaves prior to picking up riders who may be waiting inside a structure.

  The Gardner MA City Council held its regular meeting following the informal session. Listen to the regular meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.

  Various appointments were certified by the Council. — Gardner Zoning amendment passed unaimously and will now allow Blessington Corporation expansion as their industrial zoned lot was located next to land not previously zoned for that purpose.

  Council Elizabeth Kazinskas had concerns about the revolving account for Lifeline. Listen separately to her comments here about the City taking on the role of a “massive for-profit company” and the possible associated legal liabilities. She stated she is still waiting for answers. Listen to the councilor’s comments on any device. CLICK PLAY.

  Kazinskas proposed amending the revolving account amount limit to $10,000 instead of $20,000. Councilor Brooks stated that the monthly expenditures total about $18,000 for the year so the $20,000 is close to that. Councilor Heglin supported the $10,000. Amended motion carried. Councilor Mack said “I just don’t think this is a business the City should be in”. The motion did pass and the revolving account was approved.

  The renewal of the veterans service agreement with Ashby was approved. —- $10,000 was approved so the interim Building Commissioner’s work can be paid .— Jennifer Dymek was once again elected to Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for another 3 year term. —– In Councilor remarks: Councilor Brooks and Councilor Elizabeth Kazinskas remembered Attorney John Flick who recently passed away. Councilor Heglin recognized Josh Cormier for bringing the film industry to the City.

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