Gardner City Council Votes 8-0 to Discuss Teamsters Contract in Closed Session

GARDNER — May 12, 2026 — Gardner City Council enters executive session to discuss Teamsters and department head contract negotiations. The council voted 8-0 at its informal May 12 meeting to close its doors under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30A, Section 21, citing exemptions that protect a municipality's collective bargaining position from public disclosure. Council President Towers presided over the brief open session, during which Councilor Mack flagged a discrepancy between the verbal statutory citation and the posted agenda — a moment Towers attributed to clerical error. The motion to enter executive session was made by Councilor Dernalowicz and seconded by Councilor Heath; all eight members present voted yes. The council adjourned directly from the closed session without returning to open session, meaning no public action on any agreement will be known until a future meeting.