Gardner Finance Committee advances $925,000 Waterford asbestos cleanup and capital oversight reform

Finance Committee · Meeting of July 24, 2026

Gardner Finance Committee advances $925,000 Waterford Street asbestos abatement in marathon July 24 session. Mayor Michael J. Nicholson asked the Finance Committee to reappropriate $925,000 in unexpended elementary school bond proceeds to fund a full asbestos abatement and interior renovation of the two-story wing at 62 Waterford Street, after a contractor's drilling work disturbed encapsulated asbestos floor tiles during site preparation for the future Senior Center.

Engineering firm Tighe and Bond pegs the full project cost at $1,211,317, with identified revenue of $1,297,000 combining bond funds, a $250,000 federal earmark, and $122,000 in CDBG money. Council President George C. Tyros also presented a new capital oversight ordinance requiring mayoral submission of final project plans before any bid exceeding $100,000 and creation of advisory committees for projects over $500,000, saying "after the year we've had in responding to issues around our capital and projects in the city, I think this ordinance is very necessary." The committee voted unanimously to forward three donation acceptances to the full council — a $5,000 gift for police community policing, an American flag from Keller Partners Co., and a donated 2026 Chevrolet pickup for the K9 program — and to remove a salary transfer order that the mayor said was no longer needed following the FY26 citywide closeout.

In the full story:

• Three items were moved to the full council by unanimous committee votes
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 4,049 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of July 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.