Gardner committee approves CDBG reallocations, advances FY26 mini‑entitlement application

The Gardner committee voted unanimously on March 24 to reallocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from prior fiscal years and to forward the FY26 mini‑entitlement application to the City Council for formal resolution on April 6.

Chair opened the public hearing on FY26 proposed projects and said the committee planned to reassign a portion of FY25 funds originally designated for the School Street School Walkway Design and the Gardner emergency housing/homeless prevention effort to existing public social‑service activities. The Chair, who led the meeting, told members the state housing office had limited how long grants could be extended, but that staff could add roughly three months of FY25 funding to current awards to bridge timing gaps so “it will all work out… I don't think it will put their programs at risk,” the Chair said.

Why it matters: The reallocation frees money to support local social services and an infrastructure project while keeping the FY26 project list largely unchanged. Staff said moving funds now lets the city address timing constraints from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) without jeopardizing subrecipients.

Key approvals and amounts: A motion to adopt the proposed reallocations passed by voice vote. Staff read the FY25 package breakdown as follows: $7,500 to Gardner CAC; $5,750 to the Gardner School Department Athletic Program; $3,750 to Voices of Truth; $45,635 to St. Paul's Episcopal Church; $70,500 to the City of Gardner Department of Community Health and Planning; and $6,865 for program administration and delivery — totaling $140,000. The Chair also said reallocating funds would allow about $45,000 to be used for a Community Garden Expansion project if the committee so chooses.

Staff and next steps: Staff said the committee's approval will be sent to the City Council for a resolution at its April 6 meeting; staff expects to finalize and submit the FY26 mini‑entitlement application well before the April 21 state deadline. Staff also reported a partial release of FY25 funds from the EOHLC, with outstanding questions focused on the feasibility and environmental review for the Waterford Street Community Center improvements; staff said they had just responded to those state questions and hoped to report progress at the next committee meeting.

Project delivery updates: The city's on‑call engineers are preparing design and bid documents for the Greenwood Memorial Pavilion (a FY24 project) and downtown improvements (Willow Street from Main to Connors). Staff said they hoped to complete the pavilion bid package by the end of the month and to begin construction in summer for fall completion. Separately, staff reported demolition activity at 205–213 Main Street and that the parcel is privately listed with the redevelopment authority’s broker through roughly April 24; land‑disposition deliberations are being held in executive session.

Community use and reporting: Staff said Gardner CAC has ordered a cargo van purchased with CDBG funds and that invoices from several social‑service subrecipients are being processed. Staff suggested hosting a public event when the van is delivered so residents can see how funds were used.

Votes and formality: The transcript records voice votes for the reallocation motion, the minutes approval (February 24, 2026) and the adjournment motion. Individual board member roll‑call votes are not recorded in the transcript; the motions were approved by voice vote and the Chair announced each as “so moved.”

What’s next: The committee advanced the FY26 application to City Council for an April 6 resolution and staff aims to submit the application prior to the April 21 deadline. Staff will continue responding to EOHLC questions about the Waterford project’s environmental review requirements.