Mayor halts pursuit of sludge‑landfill expansion; council hears finance committee concerns over salt‑shed repayment and DPW donation

Mayor Nixon told the Gardner City Council on Tuesday that he has directed the city’s Department of Public Works and Engineering Department to discontinue pursuing any further expansion of the existing sludge landfill while state and federal reviews are completed. “After reviewing the reports received from the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act office and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, I’ve directed the city’s Department of Public Works and Engineering Department to discontinue any further pursuing of any further expansion of the existing sludge landfill,” Nixon said.

The mayor said he reached the decision after weighing fiscal and environmental concerns and reiterated the need to let regulatory and feasibility reviews run their course before making a final decision. He told the council, “It would have been easy for me to simply torpedo this project when we first came into office… But by making a snap decision… is not what people in leadership position should do.” Nixon said his administration will continue to update the council as it works toward alternatives.

The council spent significant time on two finance items tied to capital and operating procedures. Councilor Haglund, reporting for the finance committee, pressed the administration on repayment of a $625,000 stabilization loan used to build a salt shed. Haglund said the committee’s review found that the November mayoral letter claiming the salt‑shed account had been fully reimbursed was incorrect. “How could we be told back in November ’25 it was fully reimbursed when it clearly isn’t? It’s not even close,” Haglund said, and cited committee figures indicating roughly $494,999.85 remains outstanding after accounting for contributions and interest.

Haglund told the council the finance committee vetted how the FY2024–FY2026 stabilization and free‑cash contributions were applied and recommended a resolution clarifying the council’s expectation for repayment. The council voted to adopt the resolution and place the report on file.

Separately, Hegland presented the finance committee’s review of a $10,643.67 donation from Department of Public Works proceeds (from scrapped metal) to the Gardner Community Action Committee (CAC) food pantry. The committee learned the amount exceeded the statutory threshold requiring mayoral and council approval and that a city solicitor’s opinion supported retroactive approval. Hegland said employees have been retrained on donation and procurement policies. The council retroactively approved the donation to remedy the procedural error, with members stressing the CAC’s work but noting the donation process should have followed legal requirements.

Votes at a glance: - Karen Butler elected city auditor, 10–0. (Nominations closed and council voted; clerk administered the oath.) - Greg Dumas reappointed to the Conservation Commission (term to 10/21/2028) — confirmed unanimously. - David Orwig reappointed to the Conservation Commission (term to 08/21/2028) — confirmed unanimously. - Jim Bilodeau confirmed to the Zoning Board of Appeals (term to 08/22/2028) — confirmed unanimously; oath administered. - Retroactive confirmation of a $10,643.67 DPW donation to the Gardner Community Action Committee — approved (motion passed). - Resolution to clarify repayment expectations for the $625,000 salt‑shed stabilization loan — adopted (motion passed). - Authorization for up to five‑year curbside waste and recycling contract — approved. - Authorization for up to five‑year website hosting contract — approved. - $35,200 appropriation from free cash for fire department radios (federal grant covers roughly 90% of $365,975 purchase) — roll call passed unanimously. - $201,000 appropriation from free cash for three police vehicles — approved.

Why it matters: The mayor’s pause on pursuing landfill expansion curbs immediate municipal commitment while state and federal reviews continue, a decision that shifts the next steps to regulatory processes and intergovernmental review. The finance committee’s findings about the salt‑shed repayment and the DPW donation prompted the council to seek clearer accounting and stronger procedural controls, underscoring council oversight of budgetary processes.

The council concluded the meeting with routine community remarks and adjourned. The administration said it will provide updates on both the landfill alternatives and the finance committee’s follow‑up work.