At the forefront of the meeting was the need to revise the city’s slum and blight inventory, a necessary step to continue leveraging CDBG funds for community projects. The Assistant Director outlined that Gardner’s LMI population percentage had dropped from 54.1% to 43.7%, making it increasingly difficult to categorize projects under the Housing and Community Development Act’s national objectives. This shift in demographics is problematic for the city, which has relied on such categorizations to justify and secure funding for numerous infrastructure and public facility projects.

The Assistant Director explained that the last inventory, conducted in 2016, is set to expire. To retain the option of using the slum blight area national objective for funding, an updated inventory is essential. The city plans to expand the new inventory to cover approximately 670 additional parcels, targeting census tracts with significant LMI populations that have not benefitted from the urban renewal plan initiated in the early 2010s.

The estimated cost for this updated inventory has increased to $60,000, a figure deemed reasonable based on similar projects in other communities. This cost will be covered by the CDBG administrative budget, which includes unspent funds from the 2022-2023 period. The BSC Group has been tapped to provide the necessary data for state submission once the inventory is complete.

Council members engaged in a discussion about the implications of the new census data and the necessity of the expanded inventory. It was underscored that the decline in the LMI population percentage poses significant challenges for future CDBG projects. There was a consensus on the urgency to address infrastructure needs in neglected areas.

Attention then turned to the ongoing demolition of a property at 205-213 Main Street, overseen by the Gardner Redevelopment Authority. The demolition was intended to bring the site into compliance with modern setback requirements, facilitating future development. While an offer for the property is under consideration, efforts to attract further interest continue, with a reduced asking price. The absence of soil contamination issues enhances the site’s attractiveness to potential developers.

The Greenwood Pool demolition also featured in the council’s discussions. The project is nearing completion, with contractor APW finalizing plumbing, seating, fencing, and electrical tasks. However, complications related to electrical work may necessitate adjustments to the current contract. National Grid’s requirements for a new pole installation, rather than utilizing existing infrastructure, could extend the project into a second phase. This situation remains under review, with a commitment to closing out the project soon.

In addition to physical infrastructure projects, the council reviewed the status of public social services projects funded through CDBG. Two notable initiatives—the Gardner Community Action Committee’s Food and Heating Assistance Expansion Project and the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center’s Veterans Services Expansion Project—are nearing completion. Both organizations are working to utilize their allocated funds before the fiscal deadline. The Gardner CAC is awaiting a cargo van delivery, having nearly exhausted its resources for assistance programs.

Looking ahead, the Greenwood Pavilion project is almost ready to go out to bid, though a slight delay in advertisement is expected due to timing issues. The council anticipates completing this project within the construction season. Updates were also provided on the 2025 downtown improvements project, with Tighe & Bond completing 75% of the design plans for Willow Street, Main Street, and Pleasant. These plans will soon be ready for review, with bidding expected for the upcoming construction season.

A topic of concern involved the Waterfruit Street community center, where fire alarm electrical improvements have been flagged by the state. Ongoing discussions with state representatives aim to address these concerns, necessitating a follow-up in the near future.