Bay Harbor Islands officials will rededicate its town hall on Tuesday night in honor of the late Joseph J. Gardner, a local pioneer.

It will be called the Mayor Joseph J. Gardner Government Center. Gardner was the mayor from 1979 to 1982 and served on the town council for 44 years.

''A number of months after Mayor Gardner passed away, we decided to rename the building after him,'' said Councilman Robert Yaffe. Gardner, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, died in October 2007.

''He was just an integral part of our community for a number of years and he's very well thought of here,'' Yaffe said.

Town Clerk Marlene Marante said the two-story building serves as the center of local government and houses the police department. It was built in 1974. Gardner supported controlled growth in the town, which now has 5,146 residents.

He and his wife, Frances, moved to the island community in 1949 and he spent his career selling insurance. In 1951, Gardner was elected to the town council. His last run for office was in 1995.

''I believe he enjoyed serving his community,'' Yaffe said. ``It was gratifying for him.''

The ceremony starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall, 9665 Bay Harbor Terr.

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