[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6144438,"mediaKeyId","5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f","parentId",5534101,"title","Council approves secondhand‑goods licenses and a $10,000 transfer for billing department professional services","audioSeconds",990,"startMs",520000,"endMs",1510000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f&start=520&end=1510","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f/thumbnail_520000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6144438/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-secondhandgoods-licenses-and-a-10000-transfer-for-billing-department-professional-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6144438-829ce85ab1476d1e2d8fc8e2de4ea6ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1776068627&Signature=gyx0IMiP~D~aGrhuqyyCPoG9coxvxCAJZGeHyvh8wtyUAKA8CNMmJYjXUkM2AWQSeRAHwOS5sBPxhB-occVDArUCcn48Mc8eVPv0Mjl32AVFpz7Bt4Gxps9xLAPvrfQ4yHU7WioMpZFEjOjXd7B5pgBsi5oq504NmszL7dYxI7YFUjxvvp1-WHahAkbGYq5s-rQNs3drBZTikezTrSbfcW0wUbApe~YMcq55KKo1HkinNVC1Rt5goSGUmQmJ8Hat5UgjP5cwJOh68G81t-9RYYaZ~qk6uOTxKLzuE~uWffF9Fh46MJe6dtJfvgf605VazT~csOfjNx3xdLigZ4LxrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gardner City, MA","date","2025-08-05T16:00:07Z","article","The Gardner City Council on Aug. 4 approved two business‑license applications and a departmental transfer.
The Public Safety Committee recommended approval of a secondhand‑goods dealer license for GameStop Inc. at 376 Tiffany Boulevard; Councilor Cormier said the business has been long established in Gardner and the committee unanimously recommended approval. The council approved the application by motion.
The council next approved an application by EcoATM LLC for a license to deal in secondhand articles at 677 Tiffany Boulevard; Councilor Cormier described the device as a cell‑phone vending machine inside Walmart and said the company has been in good standing with the city.
Separately, the council approved an order transferring $10,000 from the billing department salary and wages account to the operating expense professional‑services account. Councilors said the transfer will cover interim work performed by Jeff Cook, who is serving as interim building commissioner for roughly two days a week; the funds will cover work performed to date and potentially extend his coverage through September.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gardner City Council Meeting Aug 4 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Gardner City Council approved licenses for two secondhand‑goods dealers—GameStop Inc. and EcoATM LLC—and approved a $10,000 transfer within the billing department to cover professional services tied to interim building‑commissioner work.","taxTitle","Gardner City, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",60679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6144443,"Gardner council elects city treasurer and council president, reappoints sealer of weights and measures",1398,318000,1716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f&start=318&end=1716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f/thumbnail_318000.jpg","/articles/6144443/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Gardner-council-elects-city-treasurer-and-council-president-reappoints-sealer-of-weights-and-measures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6144443-ef12324540ea61933cbba50770536019/orig.mp4?Expires=1776068627&Signature=M-Gm7Y0hqyJcACD3mxPABOzxUrB9N1z3kp3CaAGjM-EsYBoL3loHkvSKTOfOHxVljI6Nu4T1fH9PKMpshDLSgkNWQ6ZAqo-DUMmknH8fQMsh-rYOuBEWwJGRWX7zmOJnCr-Te8b8hfnr2HP~ECwxqDd~R8B2Da1pm~xkiZYkCGxly7RWzCfagIVYQsyIyKyGSgiNMPDJk0~aD~n07NPG8DOFRJT9y4tiEmd-SkKDB7t1jfztUkdeoxsTFM9t7oWi5tIrc0MNjU0ubzYr8QrYwKMTgxQJP-1i8KHFLOT~FPxvKOoGoIgshpMcKl5oILWWNXw4dlXRTmDSU1K3kCq~qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gardner City Council on Aug. 4 completed several personnel actions: it elected Jennifer Dimock as city treasurer and collector of taxes for a three‑year term, confirmed the mayor’s reappointment of Stephen Hirons as sealer of weights and measures, and selected a council president pro tem for the evening.
Jennifer Dimock received nine votes in the roll call and was elected to a term expiring three years from Aug. 4, 2025. The appointments committee had met with Dimock, who provided a detailed report of departmental duties, and Councilor Eglin moved to open nominations and later to close them; Councilor Brooks and others supported the procedural steps that led to the election.
The council also voted to certify the mayor’s appointment of Stephen Hirons as sealer of weights and measures for a term expiring Jan. 16, 2028. The appointments committee met with Hirons (a reappointment) and reported that Hirons has performed sealer duties for many years, testing scales, gas pumps and other measuring devices annually; the council certified the reappointment by voice vote.
Separately, in the absence of the council president, the council opened nominations and elected a council president for the evening by roll call; the clerk recorded nine councilors voting for the nominated candidate and the chair announced the election for the meeting.","At its Aug. 4 meeting the Gardner City Council elected Jennifer Dimock as city treasurer and collector of taxes for a three‑year term, elected a council president for the evening, and certified the mayor’s reappointment of Stephen Hirons as sealer of weights and measures.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6144448,"City reports progress on Rear Main Street, North Central pathway and hazard mitigation in July update",367,1722000,2089000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f&start=1722&end=2089","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f/thumbnail_1722000.jpg","/articles/6144448/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/City-reports-progress-on-Rear-Main-Street-North-Central-pathway-and-hazard-mitigation-in-July-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6144448-bc80b1b2400ee60089188422421d2623/orig.mp4?Expires=1776068627&Signature=WSsC6odljQDKjaVOtLXUJ3GX1tkbOcQxtl6KI0Y0rPXLk-LJxhwuq7TOfjSBK5hkVB3wseXx-dXgxojl5Dgz~bNXlRA0~CyyBLudHkj1TXeAh~bzhhj8eWhE1fXbtZE1kyNvdZu269lJ4dk4cdycYCcsLpIXX-l3SU1MTCMWa8Q4bQmgzURxeK9vB3OfrCqpZ7J65gCuDEtaFVaZt3y22dO65OQaNaC5AXgUatXmmfKQas6EhZ9P~gYARfZxu5D7ja1X8EkHTZ3TcVUeSQGlq69V6ZGomY1B7aKOuy9TjWUPVRppFc2M1Bej0x2q6tOzeWVtbNtoeLM7fXI7uANSww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gardner City Council received a July economic and community development update on Aug. 4 that outlined progress on multiple capital and planning projects.
Director Jason Stevens provided a written update to the council packet and, through Councilor Kacinskas, reported that the Rear Main Street project remained on schedule as of July 30 and that the North Central Pathway connector (a nature trail) was completed June 30, including paving, native plantings and safety railings. A length of Crystal Lake Road was paved to link the new pathway to an existing walking and bike path.
Stevens also reported continued work on the city master plan with monthly steering‑committee meetings and urged residents to offer feedback via the master-plan website. The hazard mitigation plan project continued on schedule with discussion of draft chapters and monthly meetings with consultant Wesson Sampson; councilors cited recent flooding as reason the plan is needed.
Councilors said Mackie Park remains delayed because of utility and contractor coordination tied to another park project; staff said they expected to use previously allocated funding once Comcast and contractors complete work and that signage would be posted to note accessibility issues this season. Stevens also told the council that Community Development was nearly fully staffed: two recent hires (assistant director and economic development and finance manager) brought the department to four staff, with a fifth to start in August.
Stevens provided status updates on multiple Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects from 2022–25; several earlier-year projects have closed out and 2025 applications are pending review. Councilor Kacinskas moved to place the written update on file and the council did so without further discussion.","The Gardner Community Development director reported project progress including Rear Main Street work on schedule, completion of the North Central Pathway connector, progress on the master plan and hazard mitigation drafting, staffing hires and CDBG project closures.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6144453,"Council approves first printing to rezone parcel on easterly side of MA‑101 to Industrial‑1 with solar overlay",78,622000,700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f&start=622&end=700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f/thumbnail_622000.jpg","/articles/6144453/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Council-approves-first-printing-to-rezone-parcel-on-easterly-side-of-MA101-to-Industrial1-with-solar-overlay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6144453-a3d4b7902d051d6c1ed32e01e678769d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776068627&Signature=eIxZi8NLzy9qqbOJlrVSAvWuPkC2ULxfMg7Kqh6UQI~AUnwoL3SD6kUTdjLv1iYEpEyuKCRQnL7Q0Il9JAKdYCpq7hWgTqcEK~zpBASIXZXwecZ0Wx~s4JGhUtI7lazQMzdUaPxfNrU5fvjEup0RwvJUbr0TXrZyN3K3sI6pOs-PugFfoL~uUghQMeiCFBPG7uH5RH~~zytw37V59Ivhxr~IEcttv--9eByuhuqiJIYuixzpPhygnPfS7f~yXKxyePX2SizZg186sHYQx3MxsmfSmThDjQHOraHp4Ar1O8xjvllJ~q~ybOSIIgoI-lzfcmtrfsrIhoKKpvd8JACheA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gardner City Council on Aug. 4 voted 9-0 to send to first printing an ordinance that would amend the city zoning map to reclassify an existing parcel on the easterly side of Massachusetts Route 101 in eastern Gardner from Commercial‑2 to Industrial‑1 with a summer solar overlay.
Councilor Mac, reporting from the Public Welfare Committee, said a joint public hearing with the Planning Board on July 7 drew no objections and that Planning Director Jason Stevens provided a letter dated July 9 recommending the change. The Planning Board and the Public Welfare Committee both recommended adoption and the council voted to refer the ordinance to first printing; the clerk said an eight‑vote threshold is required for passage and the roll call returned nine yesses.
Councilors did not record further debate in the transcript; the item was advanced as first printing and will return for subsequent readings as required by city code.
The ordinance was described in the meeting as an amendment to the Gardener Zoning Map changing the zoning district designation for the referenced parcel to Industrial‑1 with a summer solar overlay. No public opposition was recorded during the item in the transcript.","Gardner City Council voted unanimously to send to first printing an ordinance amending the zoning map to change a parcel on the easterly side of MA‑101 from Commercial‑2 to Industrial‑1 with a summer solar overlay, after joint planning-board review and no objections at public hearing.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6144458,"Gardner council cuts Lifeline revolving-account cap to $10,000 after liability questions",477,723000,1200000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f&start=723&end=1200","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5534101-8206fe30beca452b4cfb32272d74e17f/thumbnail_723000.jpg","/articles/6144458/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Gardner-council-cuts-Lifeline-revolving-account-cap-to-10000-after-liability-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6144458-80bf28e279acd84e7e8fbbff6cdc2f29/orig.mp4?Expires=1776068627&Signature=EHAnwLCrzc3e1HFWsl6PXbMgPzqj6hcaxjOyr819ZksKusxDg5-iZsumV6pcz~b2bcPoGxpRsF6oVPvsQWaj4O8QbZ9KH6qCWjxMIl3B6bqn6qIMiHuTOFgzEVA-Q8bOLwELZhQpZ3yZoMPkdxa0HyCzjQNWUY530EJDbsJdaJt2hXwZ4cpOSX9nsz10xuslZ~711bILwHac4LgzuMqqU2mr5nDpfD9790Fhf2yRvomzc6Gd70ZsM8u9KEQFthjZZZcMu4diwpgr7ELwFCGvx2aTCUP22eocLUMVCDnOclpjaJJPDZzR7bkLc8GM61~aLK9mW70pS2u3p-oL1HqUEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gardner City Council on Aug. 4 voted 9-0 to amend a proposed revolving-account limit for the city’s Lifeline services program, reducing the maximum balance from $20,000 to $10,000.
Councilors debated whether the city should be running parts of the Lifeline program and pressed staff for clearer financial and legal detail before authorizing a larger fund. Councilor Kacinskas said the council was “giving up much of our oversight” by creating a revolving fund and asked for more information on territory, liability and cost structure. “This is a good program. … it literally can be life saving,” Kacinskas said, while still urging caution.
The amended measure creates a revolving account under “chapter 44, section 53 e 1 and a half of the general laws of the Commonwealth” to be managed by the Gardner Senior Center; the council approved the change after an amendment motion by Kacinskas and a second by Councilor Mack. The amendment passed on a roll-call vote of 9 ayes.
Councilors said the revolving account would allow the senior center to run Lifeline activities and potentially pay salaries and equipment costs, but several members asked that the mayor and Director Ellis return with more detailed reporting and invoices if the account nears the cap. Councilor Eglin said the council should receive periodic data and recommended working with the city auditor to add start and end dates and clearer permitted uses.
Councilor Brooks noted that if employees are paid from the revolving fund, payroll-related costs such as Medicare and unemployment taxes would also need to be paid through that account. Several councilors emphasized the measure authorizes spending limits for the fiscal year and does not itself create program policy.
The council approved the amended motion and then passed the measure as amended. No vote totals beyond the 9-0 amendment result were provided for the final passage in the transcript.","The Gardner City Council voted unanimously to amend a proposed $20,000 cap on a new revolving account for Lifeline services, lowering the limit to $10,000 amid concerns about oversight, liability and unclear cost estimates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves secondhand‑goods licenses and a $10,000 transfer for billing department professional services

Gardner council elects city treasurer and council president, reappoints sealer of weights and measures

City reports progress on Rear Main Street, North Central pathway and hazard mitigation in July update

Council approves first printing to rezone parcel on easterly side of MA‑101 to Industrial‑1 with solar overlay

Gardner council cuts Lifeline revolving-account cap to $10,000 after liability questions