Gardner City Council approves auditor funds transfer, pulls flawed parking ordinance

GARDNER — December 15, 2025 — The Gardner City Council approved an $10,867.80 salary transfer to fund up to six weeks of temporary auditing services at its December 15 meeting, with the auditor position remaining vacant. Councilor Heglin, presenting for the Finance Committee, said the arrangement mirrors a previous interim setup and that any unused funds can be returned to the original line item by council vote; the measure passed 8-0 on a roll call. The council also approved a $1,622.79 transfer to purchase a new Owl videoconferencing unit for the chamber, withdrew a winter parking ordinance after a section-numbering error surfaced mid-debate, and unanimously approved a revised city auditor job description following a special committee review that found unauthorized changes had been made to city job descriptions earlier in the year. Councilor Heglin called on the council to consider "a comprehensive review of all job descriptions" in response. A long-awaited report on the Mackie Park project was delayed again after Mayor Nicholson was unable to attend; Councilor Kazinskus said she does not believe a department head should present to the council on such a matter without the mayor present.