Gardner Finance Committee Advances Year-End Transfers and Blue Star Parking Waiver

Finance Committee · Meeting of July 29, 2026

Gardner's Finance Committee cleared a dozen items in a single session Wednesday, sending FY2026 year-end closeout transfers and a slate of other measures to the full council. Councillor Ellis chaired the unanimous session, which included a vote to recommend an amended ordinance — item 11885 — that the mayor said would make Gardner the first community in Massachusetts to waive parking meter fees for Blue Star family plates under a recently enacted state law. The committee also advanced bond reappropriation orders to fund asbestos abatement at the Waterford Street community center, where the mayor said engineers put the cost of the five most critical concrete ramps at $83,000, against a $200,000 figure if all sidewalk and ramp work were included.

Four items were held: the hazard mitigation plan pending a FEMA update, a capital improvement oversight order introduced by Council President Tyros, a downtown parking meter holiday pending a business-owner survey being conducted by interim executive aide Egan, and a rates-and-fees review ordinance pending a language cleanup on the trash fee section.

In the full story:

• Opening Business and Year-End Closeout Transfers (Items 11895-11899)
• Removal of Item 11867 (Clerk-to-Audit Transfer)
• Withdrawal of Tax Increment Exemption Agreement (Item 11875)
• Bond Proceeds Rescission for Capital Projects (Item 11881)
• Capital Improvement Oversight Order (Item 11884)
• Blue Star Plates Parking Exemption (Item 11885)
• The complete report — 2,180 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of July 29, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.