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Council hears Lifeline Services update; members urge continued oversight
Summary
Finance committee reported 69 Lifeline subscribers (16 from Gardner), 14 new since April 2025, monthly expenses of about $1,400 vs. revenue of $2,500 and a projected $6,000 surplus by June; councilors asked for ongoing oversight and noted staff time and resident-share concerns.
The Gardner City Council on May 4 received a financial update on Lifeline Services and agreed to continue monitoring the program.
At the Finance Committee report, Councilor Hegland thanked Director Ellis for a detailed update on operations and finances. Committee materials showed 69 total subscribers as of April 22, 2026, 14 of them new since April 1, 2025, and 16 subscribers from Gardner. Monthly city expenses for the service were reported at about $1,400 and revenues about $2,500; the program is currently running a slight deficit but the director projected an approximate $6,000 surplus by the end of the fiscal year in June.
Hegland noted operational details including a part‑time communications assistant who contributes roughly seven hours per week to Lifeline coordination and installation support. The director has indicated he may ask the council to increase the program’s revolving fund cap to match anticipated needs.
Councilor Kacinskas pressed for continued oversight, saying the financial projections “don’t appear to be exactly where we were initially told they would be” and expressing concern about staff bandwidth, liability exposure and that “only about 20% of the people served by this program are Gardiner residents.” The council agreed the item should remain under review by the finance committee.
Next steps: the council placed the report on file and directed continued monitoring of program finances and staffing as the director considers a request to raise the fund cap.
