Gardner City Council Committee of the Whole and Special Meeting June 22, 2026

The City of Gardner, Massachusetts City Council held a Committee of the Whole and Special Meeting on June 22, 2026, primarily focused on reviewing and amending the FY2027 budget. The council discussed various budget orders including appropriations for city departments, the school department, and enterprise funds such as landfill closure and solid waste. Several amendments were proposed and debated, including reductions in salary and professional services line items, with some amendments withdrawn after explanations from the mayor. The council approved appropriations from free cash for police overtime and snow and ice removal. They also authorized a contract for permitting and licensing software services for up to five years. Transfers between departmental salary and expense accounts were approved, with some items referred to the finance committee for further review. The meeting emphasized increased transparency and oversight in the budget process, with new procedures for amendment submissions and tracking of professional development expenses.