GARDNER — The Gardner Conservation Commission addressed concerns about the city’s sludge landfill management and voted to approve an emergency certification for repairs to the municipal golf course’s irrigation system during its April 28, 2025 meeting.
During the public comment period, resident Alan Russo of Betty Spring Road questioned the accuracy of mapping and the lack of formal documentation for the city’s sludge landfill. Specifically, Russo referred to a “manually updated map of the Gardner sludge landfill,” describing it as “informal” and lacking clear demarcation of the containment area. He emphasized the difficulty in determining “what the extent of the liner is around this perimeter.”
Russo also stated, “I have seen no formal plan from the Gardner Department of Public Works,” and urged the commission to require “a written formal plan: here’s the cause of the problem, here’s how much is due to operations and maintenance, here’s how much is due to systemic infrastructure failure.” He questioned why Veolia North America, the landfill’s contracted operator, had not attended commission meetings as previously requested.
Following discussion, the commission agreed to continue the sludge landfill enforcement matter to its May 12 meeting. Commission staff were instructed to again request a formal report, a detailed mapped plan, and the attendance of Veolia representatives.
Later in the meeting, engineering consultant Justin LeClair requested an emergency certification to replace a failed intake pipe at the Gardner Municipal Golf Course. LeClair explained that while the project had already been approved by the commission in 2023, the state’s Division of Waterways had shifted requirements, requesting a Section 404 dredge permit instead of the previously submitted 401 water-quality permit.
LeClair said the irrigation system’s failure risked both course damage and environmental runoff, stating, “With no water for the irrigation system at [the] golf course, the fairways won’t be upkept…and you have potential runoff…right into Crystal Lake.” He also noted that a temporary workaround involved drawing water from a fire hydrant that serves a nearby hospital, creating additional strain on the hospital’s water supply.
Greg Dumas, the chairman of the Gardner Conservation Commission, questioned whether the situation met the public health and safety criteria required for emergency certification, asking, “I don’t consider this an emergency in my mind, and I’m trying to understand why the state would make it as such.” LeClair responded that erosion could occur if the fairway soils lost their stability, particularly near the Crystal Lake watershed.
After discussion, the commission voted unanimously to approve the emergency certification for the repairs. The approval allows work to proceed while the formal state permitting process continues.
Other items discussed:
- Nicole Terrace plantings
- Commissioners reviewed a planting plan for a buffer‐zone restoration at a property on Nicole Terrace. They discussed tree species (river birch vs. yellow birch, white spruce vs. white pine) and agreed to strike white spruce and river birch in favor of native species. They continued enforcement, adding a September 1 reporting deadline and a two-year monitoring addendum.
- Brookside Drive enforcement order
- Staff reported no new test results on the March 28 inspection of the sludge landfill (separate from the city-owned landfill earlier on the agenda). The commission moved to continue enforcement at Brookside Drive, setting the next review for June 9, with an addendum requiring a two-year planting report and watering plan.
- 125 Snake Pond Road RDA
- In the absence of an applicant, the commission voted to remove the Request for Determination of Applicability for 125 Snake Pond Road from the agenda and noted they’ll notify the owner that no information was provided.
- 0 Betty Spring Road continuance
- The application for a driveway and utilities at 0 Betty Spring Road was continued to May 12 at the applicant’s request.
- New England Power Company continuance
- Similarly, the New England Power Company hearing was continued to May 12.
- Old Duck Pond Dam breach
- Representatives from Haley & Aldrich presented responses to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s comments on their Notice of Intent for the Old Duck Pond Dam ecological-restoration project. They agreed to provide a time-of-year restriction, an operations and maintenance plan, a monitoring plan, and revised wetland calculations.
