City Council Meeting October 5, 2026

The Gardner City Council meeting on October 5, 2026, addressed capital-project oversight, infrastructure-related utility work, and property dispositions. The council approved a $40,000 FEMA grant-funded hazard mitigation plan. It also passed an amendment and sent to first printing an ordinance to strengthen oversight and transparency for capital improvement projects, including clearer financial thresholds, project leadership, and notification to the council about school projects. Members cited concerns about spending committed before elected officials could review project scope and cost, including reported school-office renovation expenses of at least $32,000 and potentially as much as $50,000. No construction contract awards or vendor selections were made.

The council held public hearings on National Grid pole work. A petition for pole work on Betty Spring Road was closed and rescheduled for corrected notice and language; the Park Street petition concerned electrical service for the Greenwood Pool pavilion and a new pole and transformer, and the hearing was closed without a recorded approval vote. The council also approved declaring 67 Sawyer Street surplus for sale; the transcript discusses a similar proposed disposition of 35–39 Graham Street, noting approximately $666,895 in delinquent taxes and interest, but does not clearly capture its final vote. Sales are to follow the state-required process.