[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6088743,"mediaKeyId","2879702-1393c6cb4f13437513182d1a14266994","parentId",2879702,"title","Mackay Park work stalled; committee keeps project update on agenda pending Verizon action","audioSeconds",71,"startMs",1487000,"endMs",1558000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2879702-1393c6cb4f13437513182d1a14266994&start=1487&end=1558","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2879702-1393c6cb4f13437513182d1a14266994/thumbnail_1487000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088743/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Mackay-Park-work-stalled-committee-keeps-project-update-on-agenda-pending-Verizon-action","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088743-476b3e28347e783135396de30c5f688f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205653&Signature=eI1kmwYmHRIzfah3ccs3gTeK4vVP~FD4ZHdOhuON4cfLG8v7Y04~id0AF8gUVcGfqprrbmo~xr4DTlQLTBQjd1FocNfUhBoSzjLUJHqWsyxX9hwU9JsBIPZtbsSb8sJaB5FpfDyiXS10~psEmmI~EEObTCNXn~jHEMhuaCl2kRwsPDo6er2S1-JdU4RFf6JJ1-xx0LrwD6j4RUmZVAnNeSQdewvR-MlHdzIfY08EnKVGRJHjU3KTzZgyL3KggddLv4hrBuir6-vdJ~vT0Mj-oiHoGUIuKxT5iqlvW5VK5n2OROn0gCcVgPmm3UI6krE6q~rF8skRBOcxHXm~mAZnKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gardner City, MA","date","2025-04-05T00:41:23.143Z","article","Gardner City — The Economic and Community Development Committee voted April 4 to keep on its agenda a report on the Mackay Park project after staff reported work is stalled while awaiting Verizon to complete communications \"double pulls.\"

Director Stevens told the committee the department is blocked until Verizon finishes the identified work. \"The only update I have is both the representative from Time Bond, the project engineer Alexander Bagnant, had called Verizon. I had also called Verizon because we are waiting for them to finish up the work on the double pulls,\" Stevens said. \"Until that's able to get completed, my hands are kind of tied with what else I can do aside from call them and just reiterate that this work is needed so that other work can continue.\"

Committee members urged staff to put follow-up requests in writing so there is a public record and recommended obtaining contact information for a Verizon representative. A committee member suggested that a written email to Verizon would create a record to track responses; Stevens agreed to do so and said he would try to capture the contact information and follow up to produce a record for future meetings.

Motion and disposition: A motion to keep item 11454 (report on the investigation of the Mackay Park project) on the Economic and Community Development agenda was made by Council President Tyrone and seconded by Councilor Keith; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The Mackay Park project cannot proceed while the city awaits completion of telecommunications work by an outside utility vendor, which in turn prevents encumbrance and continuation of other project tasks. The delay affects project scheduling and encumbrance of funds tied to subsequent work.

Next steps: Staff will follow up with Verizon by phone and email, attempt to capture a specific contact, and report back at a future committee meeting. The committee kept item 11454 on the calendar for ongoing updates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gardner Economic and Community Development Committee Meeting Apr 4 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee received an update April 4 that Mackay Park work cannot proceed until Verizon completes communications pulls; staff said they have called Verizon and asked Time Bond's engineer to follow up; committee kept item 11454 on the calendar and asked staff to create a written record with Verizon.","taxTitle","Gardner City, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",60679,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6088748,"Committee keeps proposed economic development and finance manager position in review",1318,28000,1346000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2879702-1393c6cb4f13437513182d1a14266994&start=28&end=1346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2879702-1393c6cb4f13437513182d1a14266994/thumbnail_28000.jpg","/articles/6088748/Gardner-City/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Committee-keeps-proposed-economic-development-and-finance-manager-position-in-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088748-b87beaad5b9d12adaec38246331c9191/orig.mp4?Expires=1771205653&Signature=HKUt1LCN0ZzSYk3RniNd0ajDHx71dAOKDGqCSE7QGeaRI91r2UtRh1Ulu9fBUAV-EwoZKV2YdUkrypDmWR3mzAVxh~Fz9BE9PlXSg~cliGsrXfh31g7V074uML2PiFHyp1WxlqpdbuQsf2CwJhmKjh0YhpL9LAlBSHVzJoNcIuYS4KswCFvVHe0E8NVdogJw3ePseHyoNbpdvuDRQXXm6rWeNzC3k3BnxWenGOzyfyJFIGcKO6goY9-8dBZXUmg1vK4Lxcs1ss80dC1hd7i0CZOB-eWns-3Mi2tYrVJSaXlpTleQKerKckrYXpv2~2FDkafgqe3Y7uPAf3vRomaWLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Gardner City — The Economic and Community Development Committee voted April 4 to keep in committee an order (item 11510) to create an economic development and finance manager in the Community Development and Planning Department and a paired ordinance (item 11511) to add the job to the city’s nonunion compensation schedule.

The position would combine the duties of the department’s budget/project manager and its economic development coordinator into a single role, Director Stevens told the committee. \"The position itself is a combination of both the budget slash project manager, which is more of a financial standpoint for the department, as well as the economic development coordinator, which is a more, I would say, like, front facing,\" Stevens said. He added that he would supervise the new hire and that combining the roles would create savings that could be used for specialized professional services if needed.

Committee members said they supported the idea in principle but wanted additional information before final approval. Councilor Tyra asked whether a formal review of department structure had been done, noting previous questions about whether the two separate roles had sufficient workload when held separately. \"Communication has been at the forefront of my mind in terms of restructuring how my department runs,\" Stevens replied, describing efforts to reduce siloing through weekly team meetings and one-on-ones.

Members discussed training and succession: the committee was told that a former budget project manager, Katie Medina, has agreed to return on contract to train a new hire on Intelligrants, the federal grant reporting software used for Community Development Block Grant and other federal programs. Councilor Perez and others emphasized the need for a robust onboarding plan and asked staff to document recruitment experience from nearby HR offices; Stevens said he had contacted Fitchburg and Leominster to gather hiring information.

The committee also requested a market check on pay. Committee members referenced a $75,000 figure for the position in the packet and asked Stevens to provide a high-level comparison of the proposed salary and responsibilities with neighboring communities before the committee’s next meeting. The committee set an April 22 committee meeting to revisit both items and directed staff to bring the requested salary analysis and any responses from neighboring towns.

Motion and disposition: A motion to keep item 11510 in the Economic and Community Development Committee was made by Councilor Tyra and seconded by Councilor Heath; the motion passed on a voice vote. A separate motion to keep the companion ordinance item 11511 on the committee calendar for the April 22 meeting was made by Councilor Keith, seconded by President Tyra, and passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The combined role would centralize responsibility for project finance and external-facing economic development efforts, including signatory duties on financial documents and federal grant reporting. Committee members said the change is intended to improve internal communication and project continuity after past turnover and project delays.

Next steps: Staff will collect and present a regional salary comparison and report back on responses from Fitchburg and Leominster at the committee meeting on April 22; the committee kept both items in committee pending that information.","The Gardner City Economic and Community Development Committee voted April 4 to keep in committee a proposal to create an \"economic development and finance manager\" position that would combine the budget/project manager and economic development coordinator roles; members asked staff for a regional salary comparison and training plan.","actionData","errors"]

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Mackay Park work stalled; committee keeps project update on agenda pending Verizon action

Committee keeps proposed economic development and finance manager position in review