A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the fiscal status of the Golf Department, which reported a substantial surplus of approximately $900,000. The department plans to reinvest this surplus into infrastructure improvements. It also reported a membership base of around 670 and proposed a 3% cost of living adjustment for non-union employees. Questions were posed regarding the increase in the vehicle supplies budget and the decision to shift from an outside contractor to an in-house employee for the golf pro position.

Furthermore, the Library Department’s desire to extend its operational hours, including potentially opening on Saturdays, was met with approval, reflecting public demand for increased access. The department is facing a budgetary challenge with the energy and utilities budget, which had been level funded for years and was now over budget by approximately $14,000. The director discussed utilizing state aid funds to balance this and emphasized the importance of meeting the library hours standard for the growing population. The success of recent library events and the impact of their programming were also recognized, with specific accolades directed at the library’s director.

The Recreation Department highlighted the largest increase in the city’s budget, attributed to staffing level adjustments, including additional summer camp staff and the hiring of a part-time nurse for student medication needs. The committee acknowledged the importance of the department’s programs for the youth and received positive feedback from council members. Consideration was given to the department’s classification under different committees and the suggestion to allocate funds for field trips to enrich the children’s experiences.

The meeting also addressed the Council on Aging’s level-funded budget, which included a 3% cost of living adjustment for non-union employees. The committee supported efforts to seek additional funds and sponsors for the senior center’s wish list items. The budget discussions extended to the Veterans Department, where the focus was on monitoring the veterans benefit line item and addressing the upcoming leadership changes within the department. The Building Commissioner and Planning Board presented mostly flatline budgets, with minimal changes and a 3% cost of living adjustment for the position shared with the Conservation Commission.

The Greenwood Pool’s budget was scrutinized, with a proposed reduction in part-time lifeguards’ salaries and wages based on current staffing and historical spendings. The possibility of increasing pool hours on weekends was discussed, but it was contingent on pending funding from the Commonwealth for the pool’s demolition. Concerns about chemical storage and maintenance of pool facilities were also raised.

The committee considered the challenges facing the local government’s cable revenue due to the shift from cable to streaming services. They discussed a bill that aimed to include internet charges for streaming services to address potential funding decreases. There was also a proposal to reconnect with the school for media-related activities, such as starting a club to work with students on sports productions.

Regarding community engagement, the committee discussed the Gardner Fitchburg Lemster takeover day at Polar Park in Worcester, planning for a special Garden City day. The Youth Commission’s budget was reviewed with an eye on reviving activities, such as movies in the park, and utilizing the new projector and sound system in Perry Auditorium. The Disability Commission outlined plans to allocate seed money for potential programs, while the Historic Commission focused on creating an archive for the New Waterford Community Center.

Other topics included seeking free office equipment from businesses to support the airport and the senior center, the Bon Tech budget’s information presentation, and the impact of increased education costs in neighboring districts. The necessity of multi-purpose equipment for City Hall’s exterior maintenance and the proposal to remove job descriptions from the city’s ordinance code to streamline operations were also on the agenda.