Gardner City Council denies two open-meeting complaints, approves routine personnel, budget and intermunicipal measures

The Gardner City Council on July 6 authorized the council president to respond to two open-meeting-law complaints filed by Paul DeMeo that alleged violations at the June 15 council meeting, and adopted a series of routine administrative and budget measures.

Councilor Mack moved to authorize the president’s responses on both complaints, arguing that the matters under scrutiny—centered on a National Grid petition—remained pending and therefore did not constitute an open-meeting-law violation. The motions were seconded and approved by voice vote.

The council ratified the clerk’s step designation (item 11,871). Council materials showed 4.5 years of credited service as the basis for the recommended step within a rubric that allows up to 10 years of credited experience; the finance committee had supported the recommendation and the council approved the measure by voice vote.

In other actions, the council approved a lease-related request from Growing Places LLC to make improvements at the Waterford Street Community Center, including installing a backup generator and two rooftop condensers to support kitchen refrigeration (item 11,876). The council also authorized an intermunicipal animal control agreement with the town of Hubbardston covering July 1, 2026–July 30, 2029 (item 11,838); members noted the packet initially included incorrect dates but the corrected agreement was provided to finance on June 29.

The council designated the transfer station safety program development and compliance coordinator as a special municipal employee under M.G.L. c.268A §20(d), allowing Inspector Babin to hold two municipal roles without conflict, following a finance committee recommendation (item 11,840). It also amended and ordered to first printing an ordinance revising the city’s nonunion compensation schedule to add the coordinator role while removing a proposed golf administrative assistant line (item 11,841).

On fiscal matters, the council approved an order transferring $205,127.08 into the mayor’s unclassified salary reserve to fund the nonunion compensation rubric adopted earlier (item 11,842); the item passed by roll-call vote, 9–0. The council referred the city’s hazard mitigation plan (item 11,836) back to the finance committee for further study and asked staff to report back.

The meeting concluded with councilors welcoming the new city clerk on her first day and a motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance • Item 11,878 & 11,879 — Open-meeting complaints (Paul DeMeo): motion to authorize council president to respond that no open-meeting-law violation occurred; both motions approved (voice votes). • Item 11,871 — Clerk step designation: approved (voice vote). • Item 11,876 — Growing Places lease modifications: move order/approval to permit generator and condensers (voice vote). • Item 11,877 — Transfer $4,016 for Greenwood Memorial Pool signage: referral to finance committee for study (motion to refer passed). • Item 11,836 — Hazard mitigation plan: referred back to finance for study (voice vote). • Item 11,838 — Intermunicipal animal control agreement with Hubbardston (07/01/2026–07/30/2029): approved (voice vote). • Item 11,840 — Designation of transfer station safety coordinator as special municipal employee: approved (voice vote). • Item 11,841 — Ordinance amending nonunion compensation schedule (attachment F): amendment to remove golf administrative assistant adopted; ordinance ordered to first printing (voice votes). • Item 11,842 — Transfer of $205,127.08 to mayor’s unclassified salary reserve: approved (roll call, 9 ayes).

What happens next Several items referred to the finance committee (Greenwood signage, hazard mitigation plan) will return to committee for study and a subsequent council report. The council president will provide the formal responses to the two open-meeting complaints.