All right, today is Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026. The time is 4:30 and that's going to be a public meeting with recording since anyone here uh recording today's meeting of the CDBG Steering Committee. I see none. Moving on to the regular meeting. Uh
meeting minutes approval of May 2020 May 26, 2026 meeting minutes. Do I hear a motion? >> Motion to approve the minutes as presented. >> Second. >> I heard a motion here a second. All in favor say I. Opposed say nay. Motion carries. Moving on to old business. Uh
FY 2022-2023 demolition of 205-213 Main Street. Uh this item is still uh under um looking to uh dispose of the land um through sale with the Redevelopment Authority. Um still have the property on
the market. Um and uh still be taking offers with the intention of um sale for residential property uh residential development um to be built there. Um moving on. I think unless anyone has any
questions on that. >> Yeah, so um what is the window like for that? I didn't look I haven't looked for a bit. >> Currently, last I checked I think about a week ago it was up on the market for just over 120 125 days. So, it's been on the market for quite a bit.
Um but we are looking at whether or not given the lack of interest that we've had in the property thus far is representative of the current pricing. >> Okay. >> Um [snorts] so, we're looking at options
um of how we're going to move forward there. >> Thank you. >> Um I'm 2.2.1 uh Greenwood Pool demolition. Director, I'll leave it to you. >> Sure. Um so, this project is wrapping
up. They completed the construct reconstruction of that underground drainage structure that they discovered during the demolition process. That's done. I believe the final fence There was a section of fence that they cut out to get their equipment in
initially, I think, and they've repaired that as far as I could tell from the road when I drove by today. I'll confirm that tomorrow. So, I think the pool is ready to as far as that the demolition project, the pool is ready to open. The grass is nicely mowed out there. Fencing's in place. So,
it's just wrapping up, you know, tying bond, we'll do a final inspection, pay the retainage, and move on to the pavilion project. >> Great. >> And just to be clear again, the when I spoke with the pool director, his intention is opening I think Thursday or
Friday, but just to be clear all items that the pool opening was reliant on for this project specifically are completed. There might be other items that they're in preparation for in order to get the pool open that are within the pool department, but for this
project um with the with the wrapping of that repair is um closing the loop for us. Great. I am 2.1.3 for public social services. >> I'm sorry. I'm going to go back to
>> Oh, yeah, real quick. So, >> with the pavilion I know this is on the demolition, so I don't want to go too far off what is on the agenda um in terms of specifics, but because it does have to the post demolition just the timeline on the pavilion. Do we have a rough very rough We don't need
>> Okay, we we we can Do we want to keep it like just wrap up 2022 >> Oh, I'm sorry, the pavilion >> and then yeah, cuz it's under 2024 budget. >> was moving by what I had in my mind. >> Okay, go ahead. >> Do we intend to fully talk about it? >> Um I was just saying the same thing you did. >> Yeah, I'm like it's right there.
>> Um for public social services for 2020-23. >> These are also wrapping up. Um, the Gardner Community Action Committee's cargo van has been delayed um, somewhat. They're opening end of July now, which is actually fine because we're in the
process of receiving an extension from the LHLC through December 31st, 2026. >> Okay. >> So, they've got plenty of wiggle room um, for that to be delivered and to wrap things up with that. Envox um, expect a final invoice from them
within you know, the next week or so um, so they can wrap up their project as well. And with that, we will have with the completion of the Greenwood Pool demolition and those two public social services, I think we have a tiny bit of admin left. Part of it's going to the summer
playground inventory. We'll be able to close out that grant year. >> Okay, good. Something that we've been working forward to working towards for a long time. It'd be very glad. >> [clears throat] >> Any more questions on FY22-23?
For FY24, uh, the Greenwood Pavilion project. >> So, bids opened for the project on the fourth and we unfortunately did not have enough money to Well, initially we didn't have enough money to
award the bid, but we were able to do an amendment to move a little bit of 2024 admin money into the project so we can award the base bid, which is the pavilion, the landscaping, the new walkway. We weren't able We aren't able to award the alternates at this time. That's for the electrical
work and for the reconstruction of the sidewalk to make it a little wider. Um, but those are things that hopefully we can, you know, the city can seek future funding for, maybe not CDBG, but other funding sources, maybe a park grant or another resource
um, can go towards that, but we're in the process of awarding the of executing the contract for the pavilion and hope to get that um started in July and um move forward to completion in the fall. >> So, on that one there, too, it's that's
with the money that we also then reallocated to that project from the former demo of School Street School that it still came in over for the construction of this pavilion itself. But, even though we moved the admin money over and the electrical stuff is that's really just the lighting and the upgrades, the sidewalk that's already there that just isn't going to change
now. As a result of the sidewalk that's there, it's just going to stay there. It's just going to be lighted. >> Yes. >> Okay. Yes. >> That's correct. >> And so, and I know your role is on the project, so I want to keep it to the project, but in terms of what the mayor is here to explain this is what we're talking about. Um
with the lighting, so that means there's no lighting. So, when it's dark in the evenings, the area has to be closed off and not for public use. But, if we get lighting in the area, then it could be open [clears throat] like >> Yeah, we we have an ordinance right now
that says any recreational facility right now in the city unless lit closes at dusk. And so, that would fall under the same thing here. >> Okay. Thank you. I mean, I know it's going to be I know it's enclosed anyways, it would be secure, but that's those are the questions that we'll get from the public
as soon as it goes up >> Yep. >> if it's not clear that this is securely closed at a certain time or whatever. >> Is the pavilion enclosed? It's an open area for those. >> It's not. Yeah. >> It won't be. Okay. >> So, it's just there now for like construction kind of stuff. If there's
any type of fencing around it, it will be just while there's it's in construction and then that will be taken down. It will be open. Okay. >> Right. >> I see what you're saying. Okay. So, that will be gone. So, that's when we're following the ordinance where you shouldn't be on anywhere near the structure if it is not lit up like
>> Yeah. >> any other park or playground. >> Yeah, it is subject to a trespass charge >> Okay. >> if you are. >> Okay. Thank you. >> There's no more questions on FY24, FY25. >> thing. Sorry, I forgot to mention. Um we did go back before the Conservation
Commission during their June 8th meeting, and they were pleased with the with the changes to the plan. So, that went very well. >> So, that So, the There was Crystal Lake worries and things like Was that what it was? >> Um the The architects, Tighe & Bond, did or
the engineers did a really good job of breaking down the um impervious surface changes for the initial plan between the initial plan and the new plan, and the overall result is actually much better um with the new plan. So, that That was a concern that
adding that we might be adding more impervious surfaces, and that would affect the um the runoff and into the lake. So, um that's not an issue. >> Thank you. >> FY25 project updates starting with downtown improvements phase five design
and construction for Willow Street from Main Street to Pleasant. >> We had a really good meeting with um DPW, engineering, the fire department, police department, and Tighe & Bond to review the 75% plans, and um we're moving forward hoping to get it out to bid mid-July.
>> Okay. >> Thanks. Downtown improvements phase six design only City Hall Avenue from Connors to Pleasant Street. >> So, this is the project that we're delaying a little bit just to um await the results of the slum and blight
inventory that's taking place now and should be wrapped up this week. Um we just wanted to make sure that that particular street um it's listed as contributing to slum and blight, and then we can meet the slum and blight national objectives that's required for
the CDBG program, which is one of two that the city can use. Um so, after we have those results, then we can move forward with Tighe & Bond um initiate the design work they need to do for that. >> And with those two um the downtown the phase five and phase
phase six, can you just talk about funding for those? Really like just for the public watching how those are funded. >> Through the CDBG fund like through the >> This is where it's funded from. >> Yeah, it's grant it's grant funded. Yeah. >> So in that case this work is funded
>> taxpayers. >> Right. Right. >> This is this is through the It's like the city gets an annual allotment from EOHLC, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, directly from HUD, um the federal agency, uh to distribute to communities that meet the
requirements for a mini entitlement community. So we get a yearly allotment of funds for us to apply for different projects for construction and social service providers in the city. And these are the
ones that we identify for our FY25 application. And what we had gotten approved from them. >> Thank you. And so if there's any construction being seen which which which would only be phase five right now, it falls under that. That's just what I I wanted to make that clear for the public watching. [clears throat]
>> Yes. And we do plan to send a letter of notification to the property owners on Willow Street so they know beforehand that the work's going to be complete going to be happening. >> [clears throat] >> Uh 2.3.3 Waterfresh Street Community Center
fire alarm electrical improvements. So EOHLC did have additional questions on the full um buildout of the of the site, uh the full layout of um
the total square footage of cuz it would the the this project was determined under a benefit to LMI people, a low and moderate income individuals. And so they had questions on what the final build out was going to be, what the proposed
uses of the building was going to be for growing places, for the senior center, and others. There are a lot of lot of uses that are already in place that are have a pre-determined
benefit to LMI people. But, the project itself needs is determined to be a benefit to the the structure at large. So, over 51% of the total square footage of the building itself needs to be to
the benefit of LMI people. So, that's something that the city is still working through. So, it's it's looking more like we'll look towards applying this project to a future grant application and looking towards
potential alternative alternative projects for for this specific project once that been taught that full um >> [clears throat] >> full layout of of proposed uses is is finalized and can be provided to the
OHOC. But, that was their only only uh question that they had. >> Well, we're still in the process of getting questions from them, too. So, this is a most This is like where we're seeing that this could head, but it's no final >> This is their initial Yeah, their initial question was on the the the um
layout of the building and it's it's proposed uses. Uh for 2.3.4, public social services. Um I can go down the list, but we can just I think >> Or if you um yeah, we can wrap it all together. They're They're kind [laughter] of on the same boat because they just started their grant periods.
So, we expect invoices from them soon. Boys & Girls Club just submitted an invoice today. We'll process that next week. Um Gardner Athletic Program, they're on a quarterly schedule with their athletic program, so we don't expect anything from them till later um, in the fall um,
for their fall sports. And um, Gardner Community Action Committee and Envoc, they won't start invoicing until they expend their other grant awards that they have. So, um, those will probably come in next month. >> [clears throat] >> Um, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Community Garden Expansion, Jason and I met with them met with um, with Tim today and went over all the steps that need to occur for their project to go forward. It's just a little more complicated than a typical
public social service project because it involves construction and um, repairs to the retaining wall. >> [clears throat] >> So, they they need to um, get quotes for for that work. They need to include with the um, prevailing wage rates um, state
and federal. They need to um, use sound business practices to procure their other um, the raised beds and the other um, the soil and the other things they need for the project. So, I think they're in good shape. I think they know what to do. We also discussed architectural
access requirements and Jason's going to work closely with Tim to um, make sure that they're doing everything they need to do to comply with the requirements. >> So, they have to comply similarly to other recreational facilities, similar to a park. So, having an accessible
route um, there's something that is considered transactional distance. So, you need to be able to be in a wheelchair and wheel up and be able to interact with the the um, uh, a facility. So, the raised beds need to
be a certain height, higher than what was originally planned. So, we want to make sure that we run this through completely with the AAB to make sure that they're involved from the beginning to make sure that both the applicant um
and the city are aware of the full requirements so we can properly um build them for and and allocate funds so that they can uh complete the project in its entirety. Any other questions about anything in FY25? >> No, it seems like things are wrapping up
very nicely. I appreciate the work. >> And uh finally on the announcements uh staff changes. Uh unfortunately uh yeah. Um so my assistant director uh Amy Uhas, who we've had the absolute pleasure of
having on staff uh since early July of of last year is going to be leaving us at the end of this week. Um she's taking another position. Um but we've been so lucky to have her. Um she's been done such such great work um in regards to
the CDBG program of how we communicate with social service providers, um allocating funds that we didn't realize that we could reallocate to social service providers to provide a benefit to people in the city. Um the city owes owes you a a debt that I
don't think they know how to pay yet, but when all of these social service providers have their um projects completed, hopefully that at least they realize um how much they should be uh giving you the thank that these funds were made available.
These projects were able to to move forward and and I've been glad to have you on my team. Truly. >> Thank you. It's been a pleasure being part of it. I've really enjoyed my time working in Gardner, getting to know the community, and just helping to use CDBG in the best way possible to meet the
needs of the community. Um I'm going to miss everybody, miss the social service providers, and everybody else I've worked with here. It's been a really great experience, and then that I give Jason just so much information that makes it really easy for the next person to hit the ground
running and they know exactly what they need to do. >> Thank you very much for that. Appreciate it a lot. The dumpsters drain dry. >> I I told Jason I want to come back for if there's a ribbon cutting for the pavilion. >> Yeah. >> I want to try to come. >> For sure. >> And we've seen
a tremendous amount of work out of the department in the last year and a half. We really appreciate your huge part in that and I just think it's very clear with this CDBG process. I mean if you just like streamed all of these meetings all in a row, you could just see the progression
and how things changed. So we really appreciate your work as it is it is going to help in the future for sure and certainly wish you the best. >> Yeah, very much. Thank you. All right. If there's nothing else, I will
entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So. >> Second. >> I'll make a motion to adjourn. It's seconded. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say nay. Motion carries. The meeting is adjourned. >> Thank you.