Town manager says restoration work underway at Senior Gardens; additional contracting and funds likely needed

Town Manager Swisher told the Board of Aldermen on Aug. 27 that the town is actively working to restore the Senior Gardens following what he described as years of neglect.

Swisher said staffing at the garden is ‘‘now pretty much fully staffed’’ and that the foundation completed work on a fountain. He described extensive overgrowth in multiple areas and said some sections are ‘‘better off just going in and cleaning it completely out and replanting and starting over.’’

Swisher said the town will likely contract portions of the cleanup and that doing so ‘‘will require probably additional funding from the board.’’ He noted sequencing is tied to seasons and to other site work: ‘‘we'll start some of that when they start the hill doing the hillside because they'll have clean some of it out to get into the bottom of the hill to go in and do it.’’

Alderman Apple thanked staff and said the goal is to return the gardens to something that can host special events again. No budget allocation or vote was taken at the meeting; staff said they would return with plans and, if needed, requests for funding.