Future of new senior center uncertain

The future of the new senior center remains in flux after renovation costs for the former Knights of Columbus building on Pleasant Street came in far above previous estimates.

As presented by Building Renovations Committee Chairman Bob McCarthy, town meeting voters in May will have to decide if the town should spend a little over $1 million to renovate the building and essentially bring it up to code.

The actual costs of the renovations are pegged at $1.5 million, but a combination of donations and contributions from the assessors has reduced that figure to $1.18 million.

For now, selectmen are planning to ask the town to spend money out of its free cash reserves, but the final decision will be made by voters in the spring.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Council on Aging Chairman John Friel disclosed that prior to the submission of the project to the BRC, he started to explore extension plans for four or five years down the road. A local architect had estimated the extension would cost $500,000, which Friel said would have resulted in a fundraising drive and an appeal for business donations.

Selectman Victor Del Vecchio said it was important that all facts and figures be presented at town meeting so that the voters could decide if the expansion should be done now or later and how it should be financed.

However, McCarthy hinted that expansion of the project’s original footprint might impact the area’s drainage and add additional costs.

Selectman John Connolly, who led the charge at the last town meeting to approve the sale of land from the K of C, said now is the time to make the necessary renovations for a much-needed senior center. However, if voters decide that the project is too expensive, he knows of at least two interested parties who would purchase the property from the town for the recent sale price of $450,000.

“We have an old, tired building which needs a lot of work which we are trying to bring up to standard and code,” said McCarthy. Fellow BRC member John McCourt added, “We tried to be very basic, but every step we took, we ran into another problem.”

Besides talking to the architect about further expansion costs, the BRC will be working with the K of C to decide if the new COA should have a kitchen, refrigerator, oven, fireplace, or a car canopy.

McCarthy said it may be possible to reduce the final cost after meeting with the architect and the COA. If the project is approved, construction, after bidding, would begin in October with an anticipated opening in April 2014.

Diane Tynan, COA executive director, said the current renovation plan, even without the extension, is “10 times better than what we have.”

“It will be great to have all the programs under one building,” she said. “The COA is not at all unhappy with the current plan.”

Selectmen Chairman Bob Burr said the board wants to be pragmatic and do the right thing for the COA and the town. He said the costs are much higher than expected but still much less than a brand-new building.

In other news Tuesday night:

* Selectmen began to sign the paperwork for the transfer of ownership of Reservoir Pond from the Napleton Company to the town. All that is needed now is the final elevation level of the water and a certificate from the state Office of Dam Safety certifying that their repair requirements were met. Burr said the papers signed Tuesday night still place liability on Napleton until the certification is signed.

* Selectmen approved the appointment of Brooke Monroe as interim conservation agent until a permanent successor is found.

* Selectmen made more appointments to the Community Preservation Committee, including Deb Sundin from the Conservation Commission and John McSweeney from the Housing Authority. They also appointed Kathy Fox Alfano as a citizen’s representative.

* Selectmen made more progress toward approving a capital budget for FY 2014. Selectmen decided to take the K of C renovation request out of the budget and pay for future renovation costs with free cash, if approved at town meeting. The other major debt capital item, $810,000 for a new fire ladder truck, will be paid for with ambulance receipts. A request by the library for $9,000 for a display case to house historical documents will be paid for with Community Preservation Act funds, if approved by the CPC. Selectmen told Town Administrator Bill Friel to find room in the cash capital budget for replacement of the deputy chief’s car, which is estimated at $45,000. A request of $48,000 for three thermal imaging cameras for the Fire Department will be financed by a grant.

* Norfolk County District Attorney Mike Morrissey asked selectmen to publicize two programs aimed at limiting the damage of drunk driving. One is to ask restaurant and pouring establishments to pay for the cost of a soft drink, coffee or tea for a designated driver. The second program raises the awareness of waitresses, waiters and bartenders in a program called “Observe, Don’t over serve.”

* Selectmen will next meet on Tuesday, January 8, at 7 p.m.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Dec 19 2012. Filed under News, Town Government. Both comments and pings are currently closed.