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Subcommittee backs higher spending cap and accepts donations for Gardner Senior Center
Summary
The Public Welfare Subcommittee recommended a higher spending limit for the Gardner Senior Center’s recreational activities revolving account and voted to accept in‑kind and cash donations; Director Ellis described higher program revenues and donor support tied to a forthcoming facility move.
The Gardner City Public Welfare Subcommittee voted to recommend that the full council increase the spending limit for the Gardner Senior Center recreational activities revolving account and to accept recent donations identified for the center.
Director Ellis, speaking to the committee, asked to increase the spending cap to $60,000 (or available budget, whichever is lower) under the provision cited in the meeting as “Section 53 e and a half of Chapter 45 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth.” The director said the change would let the center retain higher year‑end balances to fund programs and instructors rather than forfeiting funds at fiscal year‑end.
Ellis described a recent uptick in community financial support, grants, and in‑kind donations that reduced the center’s operating burden. “We have enough advertisers that cover the entire cost of [the newsletter],” Ellis said, and noted a pending grant due within 30 days. Ellis said program revenues now cover a larger share of class costs — in many cases 75%–80% — reducing the center’s out‑of‑pocket share for instructors.
Councilors asked questions and expressed general support. Councilor Heath moved to recommend passage to the full council; the motion passed on a voice vote.
While Director Ellis remained, the committee also voted to accept gifts and donations to the Gardner Senior Center and forward that acceptance to the full council. Ellis listed recent donors and in‑kind support, naming Sterilite for a large donation of storage containers, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for two pool tables, and ongoing food donations from retailers including Big Lots, Hannaford’s, Price Chopper, and Walmart. Ellis said some donated items are being stored off‑site until the center moves into a new community facility.
Both actions were recommendations to the full council; no final appropriation or policy change occurred at the subcommittee level. The committee recorded the motions as approvals to forward the spending‑limit change and donation acceptance to the full council for final action.
