Gardner council committee approves $50,000 to seed new youth center after Boys & Girls Club exit

The Gardner City Council Finance Committee voted Thursday to recommend that the full council create a revolving account for youth center services and to appropriate $50,000 from free cash to seed a pilot teen center at the Elm Street School building.

Mayor said the Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster will discontinue services in Gardner effective July 1, and the city is moving to avoid a service gap for older students. “We want to make sure we're not losing services for our youth population here in Gardner,” the mayor said, adding that Representative Lotnick secured a $100,000 state earmark to support the program in its first year.

The revolving-account measure uses Chapter 44, Section 53E½ of the Massachusetts General Laws to let program fees and donations be held and spent directly for the program. The mayor told the committee the city will operate the teen program similarly to the existing after‑school program: the goal is to run it as largely self‑sustaining through fees, donations and grants, with the pilot year offered free to participants using the state funds.

Councilors pressed for operational details. Councilor Mack asked who would staff and supervise the program and how liability and benefits would be handled. The mayor and supporters said the program will be administered under the city's existing after‑school framework, with personnel and background checks handled by human resources and oversight coordinated with the superintendent; the mayor said the new director would be a city employee and that part‑time staff could be hired without benefits. Advisory‑board members and councilors suggested further briefings for the full council on staffing, budget and oversight before permanent commitments.

Councilor Higgins moved, and Councilor Mack seconded, a motion to recommend adoption of the measure to the full council; the committee voted in favor.

The committee also discussed program governance and next steps, including: clarifying reporting lines (the mayor's office and HR will handle hiring and payroll; programming will coordinate with the superintendent), confirming that the $100,000 state earmark covers the initial staff salary and benefits for the director, and that the $50,000 free‑cash appropriation would help with operating costs and space set‑up. Supporters emphasized the appropriation is start‑up seed money for a pilot year, not a long‑term guarantee of city funding.

The matter now goes to the full City Council for final approval.