I'm going to call to order the Wednesday, June 24th, 2026 Economic Community Development Committee meeting. Um We have quorum present. Announcement of open meeting recordings. Is there anyone here recording the
meeting besides our staff? No one here is recording the meeting. Um we're going to take things out of order a little bit. Well, we'll start with review and approval of meeting minutes. We don't have any of those. We will have some for our next meeting. And we're going to go to uh take item at 11746 out of order and
we'll start with that. Dr. Stevens, go ahead. >> Thank you. Um so, for the Gardner uh South Gardner Village uh Center utility upgrades, the surveying from Tighe & Bond uh has been complete uh for the entirety of that project
area. Um that surveying uh data was sent over to National Grid along with the proposed uh electrical uh buildout for the removal of those poles, bring them down uh into the subsurface. Um we're now just awaiting their review and approval, but they do understand um
and it's been relayed to them with Tighe & Bond that the uh time is of the essence with with their review, especially with uh their review time and other projects. So, we want to make sure we're staying on top of that. I I've been assured by the Tighe & Bond team that that's happening. Thank you.
>> Um for the rear main uh south side, uh the one that hasn't uh begun yet, we're still uh deliberating with the current property owner at Cumberland Farms for the remaining uh ownership of the necessary parcel uh to begin uh work. We're going between a couple of
different options between uh leasing, option to purchase, uh and and just outright purchasing through the Gardner Redevelopment Authority, but those deliberations are still being um weighed. >> Thank you. >> Uh for the downtown uh phase five uh
CDBG project, uh we did meet both myself, uh uh police, fire, DPW, and engineering uh to discuss the proposed layout of uh the new crosswalks, uh curbs, and um some of the all the improvements that are going to be
incorporated as that project. Um Time Bond as the on-call engineer who's going to be overseeing the the engineering has been overseeing the engineering side of this project is preparing the bid documents uh to uh bid out that project. Um as a note, um we are going to be
having some administrative changes in regards to these projects as this is one of our CDBG project, so I have invited um Amy, my assistant director, um here today. Um She's [snorts] um
unfortunately going to be leaving us at the end of end of this week. Um she got scouted for for another position with another municipality, and um we said this last night at CDBG and so the public could see the sentiments
I echoing through through the meetings, but we've been so so so lucky to have her um in charge of our CDBG um administration um as the liaison for all of the social service providers that have uh been able to get additional funds and
been able to get their reimbursements done in a timely manner both through uh her help and Iris uh as well as seeing over the the financial side. Um so this and and a lot of the future projects that I'll I'll be mentioning uh our CDBG projects, and I just wanted to mention
that the administration of those will will be transferred uh from the program delivery side over to myself uh in the interim while we look for a new assistant director. But, um I don't know if you have any any words on your on your last last couple days, but >> Just say it's been a real pleasure to
work in your department and work with you and our team. Uh we have a great team. We had a great team. Hope you you [clears throat] continue to have a great team. I'm sure you will with your leadership. Um it's been great. Really happy to get to know Gardner in the community and everything good that's happening here.
>> And um and as you guys said at CDBG as well. We thank you very much for all the work that we've done uh both to build up to the department. You know, we you know, us meeting regularly is really helpful, especially when you know, someone does move on to another um
position outside of the city. We can genuinely feel the work that that you've done and that it's been a a pleasant process and everything. So, um well, we will be sad to see you go and we will certainly miss you. Um I can just, you know, speak from our experience working with with Jason and
the department um also CDBG me being on there as well. Um you know, we certainly understand that, you know, things life goes on and that's okay. Um but just again, thank you for all your work and it was it was a complete pleasure to work with you, Jason. >> Thank you. Likewise.
>> Yeah, I really can't say anything more than what uh Councillor Ziskinzis has said. The only comment I can make is it's just tough when you do well and then you get scouted. So, I just >> [laughter] >> you know, in the future tell people to tone it down a little bit so they don't get scouted and leave us. But um
congratulations on the on the opportunity there. >> Thanks so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And so, um following that, another uh CDBG project, but the uh Waterford Street Community Center uh fire system upgrades. Um as
this project was uh was put through our CDBG application under uh the project being an LMI benefit, that being low and moderate low income uh benefit. Um EOHLC had um
some additional questions on the uh full layout of the the building um in regards to um the building itself, the 51% or more of the full square footage of the entire building needed to be for an LMI benefit. We're still trying to get the
those those numbers to um meet the 51% with a lot of the additional uses that are are going to be going into the building um with the senior center, CAC, Growing Places being a uh
presumed benefit to LMI peoples. Um so, as we we're going to be looking for alternatives with these funds for a alternative CDBG project. And once we have that full layout of the building, we'll look to circle back. And
if it does meet that 51% of the square footage of the building, then we'll look to allocate a future CDBG application with one of the construction projects being the this fire system upgrades. >> Thank you.
I have no comments or questions for you so far. >> Um the Greenwood Memorial Pavilion construction also a CDBG projects. Um the bids closed and this was awarded um 2 weeks ago.
>> 2 weeks ago? >> Uh week week ago. Somewhere between 2 and 1 week ago. It's a blur for me. So, the construction of the pavilion will begin with the intention of completion in mid to late fall. This will not have any impact on the
pool opening or pool season for the city. I know that's something very much anticipated um for for the city. >> Thank you. I I also talked about the CDBG, so I I don't have any further questions as we've had
some discussion. Glad to know it won't affect the pool season and that we'll still be able to keep moving forward in that timeline. I think a lot of work has gone into keeping this timeline. So, I really appreciate that. I know you have to work with all of the contractors and all of the stakeholders
involved in these projects and it's it's can be tough to keep them on on track sometimes cuz there's things that nobody foresaw to happen, but this one is going to be It's going to be great to see the pool this summer with the full demolition
done and then, you know, we can hopefully celebrate in the fall at some point where we have the family and then get it on for some of the nice weather for this year. So, I think it's it's exciting and it's important to preserve the history of the pool as well. I think that's been done really thoughtfully through this process. So,
are there any questions though or anything? >> Um I don't Well, the only question I have is do we have a date for the opening of the pool? >> By the end of this week. There was a crack in the concrete wall of the pool that needed to be filled. The repair has
been done. We're just waiting for everything to dry in the right way before we refill it and then fill it, camouflage it, all that other stuff, but we're expecting by the end of this week. >> Okay. >> Wasn't 350-ft [clears throat] slash in the pool, right? >> No. No. >> [laughter] >> Just a patch. All right.
>> Um the demolition is eminently [clears throat] being completed. I think we're actually just waiting on some very, very minor closeout activities if any and the final pay wreck being submitted from Associated Building Wreckers. I'm really
happy that they were able to get the repairs done to the fence, installing the gate that will eventually be incorporated into the pavilion project. Um the repairs to the drainage structure which is used by the pool for drainage
at the beginning of the pool season each year to make sure that they have all everything that they need Um that they were reliant on this project for um in good working order to get the pool uh ready for the next season. So, I'm happy that that project is eminently closing.
Um for other ongoing projects outside of CDBG, the river main uh north side, the completion of that project will happen by the end of August. The actual uh project site will be completed uh more towards the um
I say mid to late July. Um And the additional work happening outside of that is mainly on eight Main Street with the one additional [clears throat] transformer um being put in there. Uh I extension of the existing sidewalk to encapsulate that transformer and make
sure that the sidewalk is still ADA accessible with the placement of that additional transformer. Um and that's to provide electrical um service uh to the site and to um Yeah, to the to the site for the um
the pavilion out there that that is under construction, the water feature, and um all the facilities. >> Thank you. >> The master plan uh as is completed. Um it's been adopted by the um
the uh planning board. So, I this project is is wrapped up. It's one of the ones that I presented on last with my presentation on upcoming and ongoing CDBG or upcoming and ongoing community development projects. So, I just wanted to say that this project is
completed. Same with the housing production plan, which I'll be presenting on more as a formality, but has already been adopted by both the planning board and city council. Um So, that one has been completed. The uh hazard mitigation plan is in progress.
We did get an extension all the way until October 1st of this year. Um but we're just waiting on final approvals from FEMA. It It is a bit of a more rigorous approval process through the federal and state agency to make sure that we've done all of the proper
um you know, engage all the proper local bodies, organizations, businesses um stakeholders both local and and at the state level for their review of this plan. So, once we get their full review
and approval, we can move forward with presenting this plan to the full council for their approval and adoption and close out this plan as well. The Downtown Mobility Plan awarded through the RAISE grant. There was new RFQ documentation required for this
plan. Um That was at the request of MassDOT and FEMA as the grantors for this project. Um That was completed thanks to Assistant Director Uhaz and
it's going to be bid out by eminently. Um so, we can we can start the work with that project. The Garden Municipal Surplus Property Plan also same as the Housing Production Plan has been completed and adopted by the City Council and is going to be
presented to the subcommittee more as a formality for us to wrap up this this plan as well. A lot of plans wrapping up at the end of the fiscal year. We love to see it. Um for ones that we had for upcoming or
potential projects, happy to say that both of them are actually have both been awarded since since we we last spoke. That was being the North Central Pathway Phase 2 for the remaining design of of that pathway. That was awarded through MassTrails.
It's actually the award ceremony is today in Canton, I believe. So, I'm going to be traveling there to um receive the grant award that myself and and the team over at Tighe & Bond had prepared. And looking
forward to completing that remaining design with the intention of moving forward with construction immediately following National Grid completing their uh clearings of the A1 B2 corridor for their ongoing their ongoing project.
And the other one is the Keizer Culvert replacement which was awarded in full by MassDOT. So, we were we were originally going after a couple of different grants to piece together the funding as as this funding is a little bit north of $2
million. So, a very a very large project that that we were looking under taking we got presented with the opportunity from from MassDOT. We prepared the proper uh documentation, submitted, and we got awarded in full the grant award for this
project. So, we are preparing um with Tighe & Bond the necessary documents for this so we can begin the bid process for that. And similarly, I have Justin Enright who was
very much the one spearheading along with Assistant Director Juhasz the grant documents for for this project. So, it's not me to thank. It's it's really both of them. So, um
it's something that he's he's very much worked towards and has had on his mind over the last year. So, he was with the whole team was thrilled when we got that award. Just >> There's a little bit of jumping around. >> [laughter] >> It was it was definitely
>> Truly, I mean all of everything that you were preparing on is great, but this is truly amazing because this really needs to get done. It is it's it really it's huge. I I I'm so pleased to to hear this and the sense of urgency that was placed on the project. >> And um
unfortunately, I Justin also is uh going to be leaving the department. Um he's looking at focusing um he's going back to school for his master's program. He's focusing on that. Um but this all to say Justin's the longest
person I've worked with him the whole time I've been here since day one. Um we've gotten we've gotten very close uh worked together on a lot of different items and projects. This this one um you know, top of mind but have nothing but the
best intentions for for him um as he focuses uh on his career and his his next steps there. So, um wishing him wishing him all the best. I don't know if you have any anything you want to say. >> Uh just thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you over the
past couple of years to try to institute positive change to the community. As Jason previously stated, yeah, this >> [laughter] >> especially the [clears throat] the grant itself that had a couple of sleepless nights just because, you know, it's a very important piece of infrastructure with a really vulnerable community on
the other side of it and uh to have been able to have the opportunity to actually make that come to fruition was just outstanding. Yeah, as well as working in in by extension with the conservation commission as well that keeps the city up to snuff with, you know, DEP
regulations and everything else. So, I really appreciate the time that I did get to spend working with everyone here. So, thank you guys so much for the opportunity. >> Thank you, Justin. Um certainly appreciate all the work that you've done and encourage you to further your
education more. Um but thank you so much again for the um work on, you know, this and hopefully you can catch up on some sleep now >> [laughter] >> that it's done and it's going to be funded. >> Um cuz like you said it was too too much. >> This is very vulnerable and that was
kind of the that was the the worry on it but I think we had a good handle on it. I know things are working in the department and best wishes to you. Um and if you >> [clears throat] >> Anything else there? >> Well, yeah. Um I can only echo what the
Madam Chair said over here. Um Yeah, you've been great. Um you know, uh I I hope this isn't the last time we see of you. Um I would I would like to invite you when we go ahead and this is done and then everything you
come back and you're there for the uh unveiling of the finished project and everything else as you were definitely instrumental in getting this done. >> [clears throat] >> Um it's a testament to you. Um leaders build leaders and you're definitely building some leaders over here as you guys are leaving
to go ahead and make some you know, more moves in life. And you're doing great. You guys are doing great. Um you know, it's one of those things where you hate to see people leave but you get it. You understand it. And um it'd be good that
when you guys are on your next endeavors I would just sit back and say yeah, we had them here. >> Mhm. >> You know what I mean? So that's just fun. So that's all. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> That's [clears throat] all I have for economic community development projects. You guys are good to get back to the
department. You don't have to stay for the >> Thank you. Thank you. >> So I think if you're all set. >> Yeah. >> Um I'll leave you with your updates. Um we will um keep this item as an ongoing in sub committee items.
Serving the purpose of these ongoing projects and so that you're able to give me you know updates or specific to any of them in the future. Okay, so we will move now to the monthly Waterford Community
Center update Mr. Day. >> Thank you Madam Chair. The written update will go through that. I will say the building renovations, bathroom upgrades and HVAC work I'll probably get to at the end structure and everything else first and then get to that one at the end. Also the roof repair and solar installation select energy is still meeting with us at the
site. The engineers are going through the listings that they gave us 2 years ago that said you know the project was going to cost about this much for them even though it's all fully funded on their end through various federal grant funds that they've obtained. Basically what does the
savings look for us in the long term in terms of the pilot payment in terms of the energy savings that we'd be seeing as a result of this and any the rent payment for the use of the roof too. So all of that's being updated now. So once we get that I'll be submitting that as well. The farmers market had their annual
farmers market this past week. We did make sure the lawn was mowed and we do have that on a regular schedule as we are moving forward. Again, they meet the third Saturday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with various different themes throughout the course of the summer and they will continue over at that location up
through October with the November market being here at City Hall again. >> I did attend and it was lovely. >> Yes. >> They do such a great job and everyone's happy to be there. It's I'm so I'm so glad that we have that space for it with all like all the
parking and everything. It's just it's it's just it's lovely. And the there's a big sense of pride for the people who put it on too. I just I think it's awesome. So the weather held up which was great. >> Yes. >> [laughter]
>> As it has been lately but it was nice. >> The senior center I Uh, just as a follow-up because I know this was uh, suggestion made at this committee that uh, we did end up doing. So, I did go meet with the Council on Aging at their last meeting. They don't meet over the course of the summer, but uh, we're working on seeing if there could be a
special meeting held where we could do a full, more in-depth update as to the progress that's being made over at the uh, community center for their eventual move. Uh, but I did let them know that I will be attending all of their meetings from now uh, for the foreseeable future to be the one to give them the update on the project rather than have it be a
third-hand update that's given through their waste of the telephone games. Having it directly come from my office would be what's uh, done for until the move out eventually happens again. >> Thank you. I did watch um, that portion of their their meeting and I just I mean, it was obviously it was the first
one that you've done and it was there was a lot to it and I I understand that Council President Tyros um, will also be invited in the future as well, which I think I think is great. Um, so I I do appreciate all that you do. Thank you. >> Uh, on the concrete ramps, uh, I did
just yesterday get the full engineering scope from Tighe & Bond. Uh, how this works is they give us an engineering scope and a cost to oversee the actual project, basically work with the contractor to make sure that they stay within scope and everything's done the right way. Uh, now that we have that cost from them, which came in at around $35,000, we can move forward with the
rest of the project in terms of the bidding, the getting it out there and getting the construction going and all of that. So, that's uh, moving forward on its end as well. Uh, really no update on the Disability Commission side of things other than that they are still interested in going into one of the classrooms in the one-story wing for a disability center
uh, to uh, centralize their operations in the city. Uh, GETV has begun to move out. >> speak on the Disability Commission really quick, too. I did speak with with Ann Hurst as a member of the Disability Commission um, after our last meeting and um, they're
they're just so happy to have the opportunity to be part of the space and um, they seem, you know, very satisfied with that so far. So, I would say keep that conversation going. I think it's great. >> Uh, GETV has begun their move and they've uh, moved actually most of their equipment over into the location. They
do still have a tower rack over at the Garden High School location. Once that moves, the station will be down until it's reconnected again over at uh, the community center. So, we're going to be doing that last. They have until July 14th before we have to prep that room for the school year. Uh, so there is
some stuff that's going on there, too. So, we are working on, you know, waxing the floors, getting the room ready for them to go. They have moved most of the equipment over there. They're just trying to now set up the room itself. Uh, so all of that is moving forward. Uh, we are working with Comcast on running the new connector line to the new studio.
On seeing how when they can schedule that. We are, you know, we have made it clear that time is of the essence on that. Uh, we are still able to broadcast out of the studio that's here in the chamber. Uh, so there is some work that can be done here, too. So, all of the meetings that are here can be broadcasted out live. All of the, uh,
pre-recorded things can be set up through, uh, the connection here at the chamber. It's just some of the newer recorded things that are done in studio may have a delay before they're aired on the station's TV channel. Uh, this shouldn't affect anything like the live stream on the video on demand or the
YouTube channel. It's really just the broadcasted out on channel 8, uh, portion of it that would have to be connected because of that Comcast wire and that's solely on when Comcast comes out here and schedules that on there end with their technician. Uh, but it is something that they are, uh, prioritizing for us to get that done. And once we get an official date, we'll
be sure to let everyone know about that, too, so it's clear. Any questions on that? Uh, Growing Places in the CAC, uh, we, uh, I mentioned before that we're reviewing what they need as in terms of their space, uh, to fit everything out. Uh, there have been two items that have
been submitted to the city council on my end that are pending review. Uh, that they need their lease agreement say that any changes that they make to the building do require council approval first before they make those changes. Uh, and there is a backup generator that's needed for the refrigeration units that are on the outside of the building Uh, so that if the power ever
goes out those refrigerators still run so we don't lose the food that's in those refrigeration units and then there are two condensers [clears throat] that have to be replaced on the roof for the refrigeration systems that are inside the building that growing places is using so those two changes have been submitted for request for whenever the
council gets a chance to review those and those are the two main things that have come up now in those conversations obviously the CAC is still working on building out their kitchen space and the old principal's office and growing places is in full operations in their space that they have in the
building so these are just the stuff that have come up along the way of you know these would be good for us to have so that we can get everything done and wrapped up in the backup systems put in place for all of that work too. Going back to the building renovations bathroom upgrades and HVAC work two
things to note on this the first is that there was a complaint made with the architectural access board which is the state agency that oversees the code of Massachusetts regulations that are basically the state's version of the ADA the Americans with Disability Act
stating that the building was not compliant with accessibility measures. The AAB did have a hearing on this review this did send an inspector out to the site and what they've asked us to do in the end is do a self evaluation of the building because most of the work that's been done in that building has
been to bring bring the building up into compliance with accessibility standards getting the bathrooms compliant so that there is an accessible stalls with a turning radius for someone in a wheelchair the ramp work that we talked about the door replacements to the grocery store style doors because the previous doors were not wide enough to
fit a wheelchair through the two things that they said that they normally look for that really aren't a factor with us here are water fountains and public telephones as because we're not planning on continuing the use of the water fountains that are there the bubblers as New Englanders call them and there are no public telephones in the
building so that's why they're they've asked us to do the self-evaluation instead to basically be like this is where we currently stand, this is where we stood 3 years ago, this is where we are now, these are if there's any other changes that need to be made, these are what they are now. So, we're in the process of getting that done there, too.
So, it really has been a friendly process with the Architectural Access Board because a lot of the work that they would normally look for, >> [snorts] >> we've already done as a result of all of the work that's been done in the building. The thing I would like to know though is that as part of the inspections that
were done with the work that's been done with installing the new head units for the HVAC system, the contractor who was installing those did drill through the floor tiles in a couple of the rooms and those floor tiles were as This came up through a regular
inspection that was done at the conclusion of the work where our director of public health noted that she thought that one of the tiles looked like it could be asbestos-containing. So, we reached out to the Department of Environmental asked that they come out and fully inspect the site. And while they were there, I asked them
to do a full inspection of the entire building. If they were here anyway, we wanted to make sure we had the full report as to everything that was done in the building because of the amount of work that was done. The only place that was of concern to them was where the areas where those floor tiles were drilled into in the
two-story wing. We are working with the DEP on the plan to remediate the issue through a non-traditional work plan that they're requiring us to do. And while this does cause some delay in that the cleanup does have to happen, we are
reviewing all options moving forward of you know, what's the best long-term solution for the asbestos in the building. We knew there was asbestos in the building because of the required AHERA reports that have to be done. That is a DEP requirement that every school building do a full asbestos listing
and survey work uh, done so that any work that's done a school building identifies where asbestos is located, especially because many of our school buildings are several years old. Uh, this building was built in 1962 uh, when asbestos was a common building practice. That was done there, too. So, whenever you do work on a building of this age
uh, to this extent, you know that there's probably going to be something involved with it here, too. I use the example of the uh, Perry Auditorium windows. Did have asbestos around those windows, and it was something that was planned for in the project. Uh, and then when they removed the windows, they found more asbestos. So, now they're working on the abatement for over there, too.
It's when you deal with an old building, it stuff like this happens. Uh, does it create a go >> So, so in the case to the asbestos is that was like exposed because the floor tiles were were floor tiles were drilled through. >> Correct. >> So, this is where this had come from.
>> Yes. Yes, so the yeah, the contractor drilled through the floor tiles to run the piping to the mini split head unit for the HVAC. >> So, it's it's work it's work that's been done on the building, so >> Exactly. >> And so, now it's exposed. >> Yeah, now that it's been exposed, we're just going to fix it. And that's exactly what we're doing, and we're working with
DEP to get it done. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um, I you know, it's like you don't want them to eat I guess what it is is when the the work was done, and it was done that way, and it's been exposed, it's one thing, but it's also like we knew there was probably at some point
going to be >> Yeah. >> um, some type of remediation for this anyway, so um, it's moved along in the process, and you're working with DEP. >> Yeah, and that's the I that would have been my first question, but you would already included it in the written update anyway, so I appreciate that. I don't have any further questions. Um,
you know, obviously we'll one of things is that gets done, um, but once the the cleaning of this is done and completed, and there's um, been an identified way to be able to uh, complete the remediation, and then um, so we've just asked, you know, for
continued ongoing update on this, but I also appreciate the information. >> And to the contractor's credit, the um, if you uh, a 12 by 12 floor tile is a non-asbestos tile and that's a pretty standard way of telling if something is asbestos or not. Uh and so when the contractor saw that the floor tiles in
the rooms were 12 by 12s, they thought everything was fine. But what happened was the old 9 by 9 asbestos containing floor tiles that were original to the school were underneath the 12 by 12s because the school department's way of encapsulating the asbestos to not disturb it was to
put the new floor on top of it, which is a permissible way of encapsulating asbestos. But since you couldn't see it, they didn't know it was there, so they drilled into it and that's what caused the issue again. >> Thank you. >> Um just one light question. Um
is there a time frame? >> I I'd expect by the end of the summer we'd have most things taken care of. >> Okay. >> That's my initial report based on the feedback we've taken from Tye and Bond and DEP. >> Okay. >> Uh but there's a full again, that non-traditional work plan will lay out a full timeline of everything that has to
be done. Uh in order to get there and it is moving forward. That's why regular updates will be provided as we have every ounce of information on the project. >> And this is all in this one isolated area of the building, so that's why the rest of the building, growing places can continue business as usual. >> Correct. >> Um and you know,
the other kind of movings to the CAC space and things like that are are fine, but >> Absolutely. >> I just for the public washing, I just want people to understand that this is contained to a space and DEP's obviously evaluated the rest of the building can be used. >> Yes. Yeah, the only place is the two-story wing.
>> Which number is that in the school? >> Yeah. And uh that's the update I have for the month [snorts] of June unless there are any other questions. >> Um >> [clears throat] >> thank you. Um incredibly thorough. I did want to ask just on the senior center piece of it. >> Yes. >> Um
you had um talked about the draft of the like 90-day >> Yes. >> Um have you and the town attorney Jamie met on that or has anything further on that? I just >> Yeah, we we've met on it. It is closer to being finalized now, but where the
senior center is going into the two-story wing, I wanted the uh full asbestos remediation plan done first because that would have to happen before the 90 days starts. >> Okay. Thank you. I have no further questions for you, so thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um
we will move to the first time on the agenda. Um, we have item 11868, housing production plan information and discussion. Director Stevens. >> Um, I'm not sure if either of you have the presentation that was put in as part
of So you can follow along. Yeah, okay, perfect. Makes makes my life easier. >> Yeah, you can go right through it. >> So for the presentation that was sent over, um, as an overview, again, this plan has already been adopted by the City Council. Um, so this is a formality
to make sure that the council is aware of what these plans are, what they mean for the city, how they're going to be implemented, what the goals are going to be, etc., etc. From there, um, the housing production plan, what is it? In a nutshell, it is a guide for housing
development in the city. It's a guide specifically for um affordable housing and alternative housing types that the city uh may not be fully taking advantage of. Um, I know Gardner already has well above the 10% uh safe harbor threshold
uh for affordable housing or SHI uh subsidized housing units. Um, but there does remain an unmet need housing need uh in Gardner that this plan is is meant to to address. Um how this plan is kind of broken out is is three main uh three main components,
those being uh housing needs assessment, affordable affordable housing goals, and then implementation strategies uh for meeting those unmet needs that I mentioned earlier. Um Um, moving on from there, the housing needs assessment, some of the key findings, we
do have a high percentage of renters in the city at 42%. We have both an aging population and an aging housing stock with over half I think it's like 56% of housing units in the city have been built before 1960.
Um, household incomes are lower compared to the Worcester uh, county at large, resulting in a nearly a third of resident households in the city being cost burdened. Um, we're looking at housing development uh,
has currently declined but could be be rectified um, with some of the implementation strategies that we're looking to incorporate as part of this plan. Um, just delving a little bit further into into some of those some of those findings. Um, we have a table on the FY26
uh, Fitchburg and Leominster um, hot metro area uh, for income limits uh, Gardner exists at um, median household income at $67,518 with owner households at $96,033
and renter households at $43,076 which is that resulting um, third of uh, residents in the city being cost burdened um, off of their um, median household income. Um, for the next slide on uh, key
findings the median single family and condominium sales uh, for 2000 to 2025. Um, so single family and condo sale prices in Gardner [clears throat] are lower uh, than those in the broader Worcester county but those have been steadily rising uh, especially since around uh,
2012 to 2014 up until now. Um, and the pie chart represents the age of the housing stock in Gardner and again 41% is built prior to 1940 and then that 56% is built prior to 1960. So it represents the aging housing stock
in Gardner. Moving on from there, the number of SHI units or affordable housing units in Gardner between 2025 and 2050 projected. This is to take into account that we are above the 10% at currently 1347
SHI units currently in Gardner, but the expectation is with the city not producing any any more, those affordability restrictions will expire eventually and we do have to keep in mind to maintain above that 10% to maintain that safe harbor threshold
put forward by the state. Um, that those units are expected to to to decline over the next 30 years substantially. Um, moving on from there, housing goals. Um, to be certified a housing production
plan needs to follow chapter 40B for affordable affordable housing requirements. So this is to encourage the reuse of existing housing stock through a multitude of measures, encourage redevelopments of existing sites, target
the communities or or the tracks that you know, census data shows have the most significant needs, most highest population of low to moderate low income peoples. Also areas of older adults, people experiencing high risk of
homelessness, veterans, people with peoples with disabilities, families with young children and extremely low income households that were put forward in an in an earlier slide on those thresholds there. Kind of moving forward um,
a few a few pages uh we're just moving on to implementation strategies. Um I really it it it brings everything together and it closes the loop on so many different plans and so many different um
initiatives that we've been undertaking with the implementation strategies cuz you can see what we've already been working on and what these other plans that concurrently are being adopted uh are working together for the same goal. So, just a couple examples in these implementation strategies starting with
the zoning changes. The first bullet point saying providing zoning incentives such as dimensional relief, density bonuses for projects that meet specific housing needs, and revising the housing ordinance to encourage a range of housing types. That's been already worked significantly towards through through the mayor's um
uh uh home ordinance that adopted um you know, a very very um much-needed overhaul of the current uh housing ordinances uh and zoning that we have uh in the city. So, initiatives already taken taken there, but there are
certainly other bullet points that we're going to as a department keep our eyes on in terms of how we implement those uh to also meet um those goals. Um on the next page, preserving and reusing existing housing stock. Um restoring the
use of community development block grant funding for housing rehabilitation. Uh this is one that has been a real passion of of of mine and we've actually begun uh reestablishing a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of North Central Massachusetts of establishing them as a
uh CBDO or community building development organization. Um and that is a specific designation that is given to organizations that operate within specific region, operate with specific uh need for uh LMI uh people or people
um cost burdened um and are looking for home ownership um and it offers them through that CDBG designation through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities an opportunity for them to be awarded
future CDBG application projects for construction of new housing as well. That's not something that we've ever done before and and and it's actually quite exciting. So it opens up the opportunity for rehabilitation, which they already work in, but I'm I'm very
very much excited about the prospect of opening that partnership up for new housing development in the city through um Habitat for Humanity. Um >> I'm sure the mayor is excited. >> Yes. >> Very good. >> He's been talking about housing for a few years now. >> Yeah. >> That's um that is incredibly exciting. I
like to see your enthusiasm about it cuz it it's it is it really that is a door that has not been opened before. So, that's really exciting. >> Um moving on from there, development of uh significant sites, one of the um part one of the uh bullet points, first one
is evaluating municipally owned or tax title properties for housing development opportunities of uh new affordable or workforce housing um with the municipal surplus property plan also being adopted at the same time. Again, the it's just all of these plans working in tandem together for the same goal.
That's been the intention from the beginning. It's you know, I probably have a couple extra gray hairs at the end of at the end of this year. Some of these have been in progress for 12 months, this one in progress for six, uh but they've all through working with all of the different planning agencies that we've
been working with for these plans have all been leading towards the intention of uh them bring us to the same goals um and talking to each other to make sure that one's goals coincide with with another's um
and how we implement them are are are speaking to each other. So, it um it brings a smile to my face that that's the case with with this plan and is the case with the other plans. Uh but again, there are um four other four other bullet points
there that are other uh strategies that we're going to be implementing um for uh development on those significant sites. Um and then finally, targeting communities with the greatest need. Um we've adopted um or not adopted, we've expanded the slum and blight inventory
in the city um from around 300 parcels to over 1,200. It is a very very significant expansion on uh the inventory properties um that the city has uh for engaging their current infrastructure needs.
Um so that gives us a great opportunity to justify future CDBG projects and other grant projects outside of CDBG as well. If it's if it's not a good fit or we have other priorities in place and we have other grant funds that that come
in, we can target those communities uh through uh that slum and blight inventory. But this this one has the most bullet points on it and and is going to be our uh probably of the four implementation strategies is going to be our top priority for for how we how we move
forward in terms of implementing the goals uh of this plan. >> Okay. This is um I think one of the things with all of the plans cuz you've had a lot of updates on a lot of plans that um we're getting used to that here, but uh um
all of this data models information, it's it's really important I think for the public to for anyone watching that like if we have this information, it gives us so many more opportunities down the road. And the slum and blight is like a really good example of that. Just that inventory alone, like that one data
point on top of all of this these other things that have been identified and just within this plan, um it can use for so so different things that that we could be eligible for or you know, in terms of funding or um implementing some of these [clears throat] different um
ideas in here. So, I I I really appreciate all the work that's gone into this having all in one place like being so organized with it and and the city of Gardena is um it's somewhere like any community would benefit from it. We need to benefit from it. So, I really
appreciate all of the work that's gone into this. >> I have nothing else for for the housing production plan. >> Do you have any questions for me? >> Uh presentation. >> No, I just I don't have a question. I just got a comment um and when you're describing the uh
the strategies and things of such, you made a comment as um you know, I might have a couple, you know, gray hairs and things like that. It's like your energy is like you look forward to having those gray hairs cuz you look forward to these projects to go ahead and and get through it. So, I just I just I just love it cuz I know, you know,
soon enough we're going to be able to go ahead and talk about how these projects were completed. Um because you know, you always go ahead and get the job done. And I just want to say thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Um I don't have anything further to discuss on that. So, um
with that, I'll um make a motion to um place the item on file. >> Second. >> Motion made and seconded to place the item on file. All in favor, any discussion? All in favor, say I. I. As opposed, no. Motion passes. Okay, item 11869 municipal surplus and
property property plan information and discussion. >> Going to make sure I don't lose my voice after having this fight. >> [laughter] >> Um so, the purpose of this plan and as as has been alluded with the housing production plan is also pretty straightforward. It's
looking at the full list of municipally owned properties in the city that are no longer needed for active um municipal use and evaluating whether they might provide uh opportunities for redevelopment in the city. And this is also particularly with the intention of this leading towards housing
development. Um the city surprisingly owns approximately 212 parcels uh across uh the bounds of of the city of Gardner. Um which is quite a bit, especially given our size. Um
We did an analysis on uh each of those 212 parcels for location, for zoning, for utility placement, for environmental conditions, um access, what the surrounding sites are, everything. Um to get an inventory narrowed down to uh
we did six or actually seven, reduced to six cuz two of them were were adjacent parcels that are going to be marked potentially marketed as one. So seven parcels that the city owned uh with the intention of further um more deeper study um and analysis of those uh for
their marketability um for uh public bid. Uh the market analysis was was a separate part of this. Um We looked at these We did the inventory of So this is also, I guess I guess a three-pronged uh plan. One of them is the inventory of all the municipal
parcels, which sets us up so fantastically for future iterations of this grant cuz we already have a great foundation of of this inventory. Uh the second is a market feasibility study or market analysis uh for uh real estate in Gardner. Um and those that produced a
lot of several very important findings that I think uh aren't really necessarily surprising, but are good things to keep in mind uh moving forward that we have a relatively affordable community, uh but housing supply has not kept up with the pace with demand. It's the same answer as we've gotten with the
housing production plan that home prices have increased substantially over the last 10 years, uh but that um the rental vacancy rates remain extremely low. So, it shows that with the 42% of renters existing in
Gardner, we do not have enough rental units for housing in the city. And and nearly again, the same findings found that with this with this plan group, that nearly a third of households are housing cost burdened off of their
median household income. This again coincides with housing production plan. It just I love I love it when everything just just talks to to each other. The housing population the city's population is aging. The household sizes are currently shrinking as the population is aging
and demand is increasingly focused on smaller low-maintenance housing options, which we've been able to hopefully take a huge first step with the home ordinance again. Um At its current rate, that one of the
findings again was or not again, but along with all this, one of the findings was that Gardner could support an additional 250 additional housing units over the next five years. That includes a mixture of home ownership and housing, probably split amongst what we currently
see for the housing for ownership and rental split around 60/40, maybe 50/50 given the very very low rental rates that we see in Gardner. Um The report also recognizes the large that large-scale multi-family
development is currently generally difficult to uh see through financially in Gardner. The the cost of a multi-family development and we have not seen one in like seven or eight years. I I I Based upon I I've only been here 18 months, but I I think
I think it's about seven or eight years ago that we saw the last multi-family development come out in in in Gardner. So, um that does not say that um um I it it puts pause on what factors are
contributing to um to that. Is it the Is it the rental prices? Is it the ownership prices? And it is a mixture of of of those things amongst construction material cost and and a couple of other factors as well.
So, instead the plan puts forward the strongest opportunities are for filling out those smaller scale projects that I mentioned earlier, starter homes, townhouses, modest infill housing developments. Um And one of the one of the
biggest conclusions I think uh of the report is that Gardner has land, it has infrastructure, and it has the market demand to support additional housing as it currently exists. Um but the success is going to be dependent on reducing the uncertainty
from developers for strategically um preparing sites, offering opportunities for development, and that's largely going to be seen through with the work that we're going to continue to build on with the the home uh ordinance, with the housing production plan,
um and and the other plans that we've we've moved forward, the master plan as well is is definitely going to weigh in heavily on that. Um separately from that is the market analysis of those seven parcels that we did a deeper dive on, um and we will
look on the feasibility and how we want to market um those develop those those parcels which are currently poised for uh built as buildable lots. Um future iterations of this of this
grant we're going to be looking at more of abutting properties that are not um buildable lots per se, but are could be marketed to abutting properties for ADU development through uh both the states
protected ADU use and through the city's own adopted ADUs, which was also part of the the home ordinance. Um So, I'm happy that again that all these plans really they speak to each other,
they they communicate, and they lead us to the same conclusion that Gardner has the ability to build more housing. We just have to make sure that we we lay the red carpet per se for developers so that they enter the front door um and
start building more in Gardner. And as you said earlier, Madam Chair, this is one of my favorite topics to talk about. Um and I haven't been shy about talking about how we need more housing here in Gardner. Seeing these plans and the findings that they've had in both of the plans that you've had in the agenda today, I think are going to be very
helpful to the city moving forward. Um already leading to some preliminary talks on the second iteration of now that we've had the news housing zoning for a year, seeing what worked, what maybe needs some additional work to it and stuff like so a home version two, and whatever we we decide to name that
one then at that point in time. With one of the biggest ones coming out already being that while we added the accessory dwelling units as they are, there is now a section that conflicts between in-law apartments and accessory dwelling units that were supposed to just replace each other. And the terminology now changed.
So, now just the small tweaks like that that we can go forward to as a result of this work that's done, I think is going to be something that helps the city in the long term and really boost the housing production that we have. Now, while there may be some roadblocks along the way like we've seen with some of the properties downtown
where there's national grid infrastructure that needs to be upgraded, at least we are through the red tape at that point and you can get through that first stage a lot quicker and a lot better. >> And I mean to speak to that, too, we we don't know about the those things until we get to them. So, if we create the avenue to get to them, then we're
going to have to you know, either detour them or whatever, but they're they're they exist already, you know, but especially with um the example of the challenges we found with um power to downtown. Um we would never would have known about that if we didn't
have the door open for a um developer to come in and look at that building and address the issue. It was it would have always been an issue down the road anyways. And so what that has done, um and you know, because of the building is right in the middle of downtown, um you know,
it's it's opened up that door so we can just get it done and they can do their work and make the building somewhere that a business comes in and hopefully get some housing in there. You know, that's you just have to start somewhere, so being able to have plans like this and
to do this ongoing work is what's going to allow those people to be able to come in here and know that we're business friendly, we're residential friendly, those kinds of things. I did have a question um just when you were talking about the rental rates, you know, being low in Gardner, just what is that in
comparison to? >> Um the rate rental vacancy rates. >> Okay. >> So that just I I it's it's I think around between 1 and 2% whereas the average vacancy rate is around 6 to 8. >> In Massachusetts? >> Okay, so it's going to be okay.
>> So it it's substantially lower than the average vacancy rate. So that just means when a rental unit stays on the market and isn't filled in for a period of, I believe, 6 months af- after the last vacancy
left. Um I'd have to refer to the the I don't have the full plan in front of me. It's over 100 pages. Um and um but that that's Does that answer Does that answer your question? Okay. >> Well, just I was I just wanted to be clear on it because um we hear about,
you know, housing in in and around the city all the time and the need for it and what people have to pay for housing and you know obviously we do I think we do our work here in the city to um try to make housing available and accessible and you know to people who
need it but like all you hear is how expensive everything is all the time you know and it's true and it it weighs heavy on on people living in Gardner and who want to stay in Gardner and those kinds of things so I just wanted to it does answer my question um but I just wanted to kind of
acknowledge that piece of it because it's even though it's like it's low it's not low to everyone but also if you go other places in the state it's it's really hard to find housing or it's really hard to find housing that you can afford um and I just
I'm so glad that we again have something like these types of things in place because um we do need to offer more we have you know an aging population and again we get people who want to stay here their family's here their doctor's in here like all of those things um so if you
know we can keep moving forward and working on it then we should be doing that and I think we are so um I don't have any other questions on that I think that's the information's uh very helpful and again just I mean the amount of work has been incredible >> [laughter]
>> over the last you know year plus getting all of these plans in place um it takes communities a long time to get where we have with all of the things we have and that's being a small city we really need to have these um so that we can benefit from them when the opportunity
arises and when they say oh do you have XYZ plan in place and we can say yes we do and by the way it's updated and it's reasonably current and the one that coincides with it is also done you know that's that is incredibly um important in in your department so I appreciate that I don't have anything further on
any topics of the meeting Jeremy do you have anything further to add to that? >> Uh no I just want to um you know I just want to go ahead and say that I'm I'm also excited about the uh the possibility of uh changing you know, making us more friendly for businesses and things like that.
Subsequently, as you know, we've had the conversation about visiting the table of uses and things like that to kind of make [clears throat] us more business friendly, more, you know, and business comes with housing, right? Like a lot of people that housing allows for business. So, you know, like
I just I'm excited about it as well. And I just want to say uh great job. I know we still have long long conversations to come and everything else about other ways that we can get the table of uses to make us more business friendly, you know, and I'm excited about that as well.
>> Well, I think it does speak to that to the thinking counselor cuz I think just speak to that to a few we have to do it on our end to looking at the ordinances and zoning and those kinds of things like the way that the city's evolved and changed. If we're going to identify these things where we're at now, we have to change our we have to look at
what we already have in place that might be the barrier to it. And that's clearly laid out in the housing production plan. So, I I I appreciate that we're very mindful of those things. Also, when you know, residents who live here ask, we have data to
point them to, you know, like in the presentation that you had is was great um on what we're doing and how we're doing because people they if they don't see us sometimes they just don't realize it. They they don't know about all the work that's being done. And so, this kind of a need I think >> [clears throat] >> to be able to highlight that
um is important and if someone had a question I could point them to the department. >> I keep a spiralized copy of each of these plans in my office. If anyone wants if any residents want to come and sit down, um I have a large table in in my office that you could sit down at and read read
the plans. I only have one spiralized copy, so unfortunately you can't take it home, but if anyone wants a digital copy, happy to share that as well. Um just reach out to my office and glad to glad to share it. >> Thank you. Anything further on any topics I'm missing from anyone? >> No.
>> Okay. I will make a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Second. Motion made and seconded to adjourn. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed say no. Motion passes. Meeting stands adjourned. >> Thank you. Thank you.