Gardner City commission keeps sludge landfill enforcement order open, asks DPW for plan and inspections

At a Gardner City Conservation Commission meeting, public commenter Alan Russo urged the commission to keep an open enforcement order for the city’s sludge landfill and to require more thorough inspections and reporting from the Department of Public Works.

Russo, who gave his address as 211 Spring Road, said Mayor Nicholson had directed city DPW and engineering staff to stop pursuing any expansion of the existing sludge landfill and to review only the alternatives in reports from the MEPA office and "mass D." He told the commission the McClure Engineering 2025 operations report he reviewed lacked any mention of a March 6, 2025 erosion and sludge washout incident and did not include inspections of stormwater or leach-management infrastructure he said were important to safe operation. "I respectfully urge you to keep the sludge landfill enforcement order open and to continue your ongoing onsite visits," Russo said.

Justin, the commission’s staff/agent, told members he had no major new developments but agreed monitoring was appropriate during the spring melt. He said he planned to visit the site for an initial inspection and again after measurable rainfall and commissioners asked staff to request updated written reports and a proposed repair and maintenance plan from DPW.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to continue consideration of the sludge landfill enforcement order to the commission’s April 13 meeting and to request DPW provide updated inspection reports and a written plan outlining repairs and maintenance for the next several years. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript does not provide a numerical roll-call tally.

Why it matters: Commissioners flagged concerns about omitted operational details in the most recent engineering report and the potential for runoff or washouts during spring melt and heavy rains. The commission’s request for written plans and additional inspections keeps a formal oversight track in place while staff follow up with DPW.

What’s next: The commission asked staff to obtain updated inspection reports and a proposed DPW plan for repairs and maintenance and directed that the enforcement order review remain on the agenda for April 13. Justin indicated he would inspect the site before the next meeting and after the next significant rainfall.

Quotes used in this article come from the meeting transcript; names and agency labels are reported as spoken in the record.