Gardner council moves assistant youth center director ordinance to first printing as officials note rising attendance

The Gardner City Council on Oct. 6 voted to send an ordinance amending the nonunion compensation schedule to add a part-time assistant youth center director to first printing, and councilors heard an update on rising youth center participation.

Councilor Mack said the youth center’s first-month report, delivered by Center Director Brandon Huey, showed strong early participation: “at least 22 members attending a day” and a 46% increase in attendance in the program’s first three weeks. The council placed a communication from the mayor about the youth center on file earlier in the meeting.

Councilor Durnell Owitz moved the ordinance amendment (item 11,703) to first printing; Councilor Mack seconded. Durnell Owitz said the director had initially foregone hiring an assistant so the city could gauge demand, but that need has since been demonstrated. He told the council the position would be part-time, that funding was included in state funding obtained with Representative Slotnick’s assistance, and that an earlier typographical error showing $15 per hour was incorrect; the correct rate in the order is $20 per hour.

Councilors who visited the facility described an active program. Councilor Harder said the space offers art, music, computers and gaming and encouraged registration; Councilor Heath recounted donating snacks and observing multiple rooms full of teenagers. Councilors voiced unanimous support for moving the ordinance to first printing.

The ordinance will require two votes overall before it becomes law. The council also approved placing the mayor’s communication about the youth center on file, a typical procedural step that keeps the record of the update available to the public and staff.

No hiring action was taken at the Oct. 6 meeting; the motion advanced the ordinance only to its next legislative step.