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Council approves expanded Gardner High School C‑wing work after members fault administration for late notice
Summary
After hours of criticism over late notice and shifting project scope, the Gardner City Council voted June 15 to reappropriate bond proceeds to a broader C‑wing renovation at Gardner High School; councilors called for reforms to capital‑project oversight even as they approved the funding.
The Gardner City Council voted June 15 to reallocate unexpended bond proceeds to a broad renovation of the C wing at Gardner High School, approving a measure that councilors said had grown well beyond the locker-room replacement the body originally authorized.
Council President Tyros, who moved to suspend speaking‑time rules and present the reappropriation, led the debate and urged colleagues to support the project while faulting the administration for late disclosure of expanded plans. "We were asked to approve a locker-room replacement," Tyros said in remarks to the council, "and what emerged was a very detailed complete reconfiguration and rehaul of the C‑wing." Tyros said the council had allocated $2 million previously and learned only recently that the project's scope and costs had grown during design and bidding.
The disagreement centered on process and transparency more than the renovation's merits. Councilor Heglin told colleagues he supported completing the work now to avoid higher costs later but said the council should not accept the pattern of being informed only at the end of a project's development. "Transparency is about providing information when decisions are being made," Heglin said, adding that the council had been asked to decide "at the end of the process rather than being included throughout the process." Several other members expressed similar concerns about the timeline and the administration's communication.
School and city officials told the council the renovations extend the useful life of the 50+-year-old building and would address long‑standing facility needs, including locker replacements and other upgrades. The mayor said the project would benefit students and that he was "happy to answer" further questions as they arose.
Despite reservations, the council voted to approve the reappropriation. The assistant clerk recorded nine affirmative votes and no recorded nays on the roll call.
Councilors asked for follow‑up oversight and procedural changes. Multiple members urged the finance committee and city administration to develop clearer, earlier briefings for councilors when project scope or estimated costs change. Several also asked staff to report back on funds already spent on design and engineering before proceeding with additional work.
What happens next: With council approval, the school department may proceed with the reconfigured C‑wing renovation under the reallocated bond funding. Council members said they will pursue procedural reforms to the capital‑projects workflow and seek additional documentation on costs already incurred.
