Gardner Public Safety Committee May 15 2026

The City of Gardner, Massachusetts Public Safety Committee convened on May 15, 2026, to review several license applications and discuss the preliminary FY27 budget submissions for public safety departments including fire, ambulance, police, building maintenance, and health. The committee approved multiple license renewals for secondhand dealers and a bowling alley with no issues reported by the police department. A detailed budget overview was provided, highlighting requests for additional funding to address overtime costs, staffing needs such as a new floater firefighter position, and an EMS coordinator role contingent on ambulance contract revenues. Capital improvement considerations included a fire department facility needs study and upgrades to aging equipment and infrastructure. The police department emphasized the need for increased staffing to meet recommended officer-to-resident ratios and ongoing overtime expenses. The building department discussed potential restructuring and the need for a business systems analyst to improve operational efficiency. The health department outlined increased costs related to landfill maintenance and professional services, with attention to grant funding and regional partnerships. No formal votes on budget allocations were recorded, but motions to forward license applications to the full council were passed unanimously. Overall, the meeting focused on procurement and budget planning to sustain and enhance public safety services in Gardner.